Gods Child

SAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS

So yesterday we learned about how Saul decided he was going to Damascus to bring back any Christians he found there.  We also started to see how we too, sometimes take off down the road to Damascus on our journey to do things our way.  We were getting ready to find out what God does in these situations.  Does everyone have an enLIGHTening experience along the way?  Let’s study more about this experience.

Acts 9:3-7 (NKJV) 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

MIGHTY SAUL BLIND AND LED ALONG

Notice that he is almost to his destination before God steps in.  How far down the road to destruction do we have to get before we can see the Light?  When the Light from heaven shines down Saul and those with him fall down from the power of that Light.  Jesus is the Light, He is power.  I know on my own path to destruction that Jesus came in and all those around me saw the Light just as I did.  They saw the change that Jesus made in me immediately even though He still had to teach me.  Notice too that Jesus did not turn Saul around but instead told him to continue on to Damascus. The difference was in how he got there and the way he was when he got there.

Instead of a mighty and proud man showing up to wreck havoc he was now humble and had to be led.  Isn’t funny how meeting the Lord Jesus Christ can humble us and make us realize our own limitations?  When we truly see Jesus and our need to rely on Him we are more than willing to be led by someone who can see the way.  I wonder if Saul learned how to trust on that road.

Now in this passage is a unique verse that we need to understand.   “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”  Let’s look into it more.  What is Jesus talking about when he says this?  

The goad is a traditional farming implement, used to spur or guide livestock, usually oxen, which are pulling a plow or a cart; used also to round up cattle. It is a type of a long stick with a pointed end, also known as the cattle prod. Though many people are unfamiliar with them today, goads have been common throughout the world.

What Jesus was saying here is that He ad been trying to show Saul for some time who He was.  Saul was there when Stephen was stoned.

Acts 7:57-60 (NKJV)  57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

I’m sure that Saul saw many Christians die rather than denounce the name of Jesus.  He knew there was something about the name of Jesus but rather than accept it he chose to go against it.  that is what Jesus was talking about when He said Saul was kicking against the goad.  Saul was being shown which way to go but was refusing to go that way.

I have done the same thing in that I saw the way to go but preferred to go about things in my own way until the day I too saw the Light shine down from Heaven and Jesus told me Who He was and what I was to do about it.

Tomorrow we will continue on our Road to Damascus with Saul to see what happens to him there.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS