Divine Interruptions
| “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” |
| —Isaiah 55:8-9 |
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Interrupting the Acts of the Apostles!
Knocked from his horse
by an unseen Force.
Blinded,
hearing a thundering voice—
truth, like a spear in his side.
Stunned, waiting further instruction,
Stumbling.
Anointed and driven to Arabian desert.
Three clarifying years.
Commissioned.
Ready.
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Have you ever been “knocked from your horse,” so to speak? Stunned in such a way that everything changed?
Perhaps the sudden death of a companion, or the pink slip that you had no idea was coming? Certainly the Apostle Paul’s story of conversion demonstrates such an event.
He was traveling on behalf of the temple leaders in Jerusalem on his way to Damascus. He had been given the duty to imprison anyone he found belonging to the cult of “The Way,” the group that started over the influence of their crucified leader several years before.
Paul was of the temple establishment that believed this new group meant nothing but trouble to those traditional Jews in Palestine. Known for his zeal, he enjoyed the respect and responsibilities given him by this auspicious group from Jerusalem.
Even the Book of Acts itself, telling the story of the work done by Jesus’ Apostles in establishing the new Church, is interrupted by this story. No one saw it coming! This sudden call, transformational, an obviously divine moment.
No doubt shocked above all others, Paul needed time to process all that happened to him that day. After such a forceful occurrence, he needed to get away, to think, and pray, and study. He spent three years in such an occupation away from it all in the Arabian wilderness.
God alone knew what this world-interrupting event meant to His new work in the world. He gave this commissioning to the leader He had chosen to take the Gospel to the Gentile nations. Paul’s life-focus had to change. He could never go back to his old life and his old ways.
Perhaps you have had a “spear” thrust into your side that struck with such force that you knew God wanted your attention. The best response you can give is to say, “Lord, what do you have for me to do?”
Remember Moses’ experience at the burning bush, as recorded in Exodus 3. Remember Isaiah’s vision and God’s call to him, as found in Isaiah 6. And, remember Mary’s breathtaking news of a virgin pregnancy, as detailed in Luke 1. All of these events acted as preludes to something new that God was doing.
At the beginning of this new year, let’s watch for God’s work in this world. Let’s particularly be aware of events He will bring about through us.
If events seem to turn in a backwards directions, we should ask what God is doing. In this time in history, we should anxiously await His call to action—even and especially if that call comes in a new and startling moment. We must recognize that He has plans far above our puny insights and timetables.
