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| Paul Escaping Damascus Photo source: pinterest |
This week, we have considered how God uses "unlikely" vessels, such as Rahab, for His service and glory here on Earth. Perhaps, we too, feel like an unlikely vessel for God to use! Praise God that there is hope for us!
But...what if we don't? What if we feel fairly well-qualified to be used by God in a particular area? Let's look at a person who was very qualified to be used by God: Paul (Saul).
Now, you might be very familiar with the mighty ways God used Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. But, it wasn't always so. After his conversion, Paul began to minister to his fellow Jews. This makes perfect sense---after all, being the supreme Jew, he was very well-qualified to reach the Jews for Christ. Here's a list of his credentials in Philippians 3:4-6:
"If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless."
After his conversion, Paul immediately began preaching Christ to the Jews in Damascus. But his ministry was anything but effective! Instead of turning to Christ, the Jews plotted for Paul's life! In a humiliating turn of events, Paul escaped from Damascus by being lowered in a basket through an opening in the city gates in the middle of the night (Acts 9:23-25).
Ray C. Stedman, in his book Authentic Christianity, makes this observation: "What a burning humiliation to this dedicated young Christian!...to be let down over the wall in a basket like a common criminal escaping from the reach of the law!...He [Paul] stated later that it was both the lowest point in his life and the beginning of the greatest discovery he ever made."
So, where is Paul to turn? He goes to Jerusalem, as we see in Acts 9:26, but receives the cold shoulder:
"When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple."
Fortunately, Paul is finally accepted by the disciples through the testimony of Barnabas, who brought him to the apostles. But, then Paul tries again to debate with the Grecian Jews, who try to kill him (Acts 9:27-29). It appears that Paul is back to his old program!
In a vision, God tells Paul to leave Jerusalem and go to the Gentiles. We see here that Paul argues with God, telling God that he has a history with the Jews. Look at Acts 22:17-21:
"When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking. 'Quick!' he said to me. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' " 'Lord,' I replied, 'these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.' "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
I must admit---it doesn't make any sense! Why would God reassign Paul to preach to the Gentiles, given his superb qualifications and willingness to preach to the Jews? It seems that God is missing an amazing opportunity!!
Fortunately, Paul does obey God and leaves Jerusalem, returning to his hometown, Tarsus (Acts 9:30). It is interesting that Luke records the following observation after Paul's exile: "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31).
Turns out that God can do just fine without Paul's expertise! Surprisingly, Paul is not heard from again for another TEN years---not until an awakening breaks out in Antioch of Syria and Barnabas is sent there and recruits Paul to help (Acts 11:24-26). But, as we will see, it will be a very different Paul who joins Barnabas in Antioch. From here, he will go on to launch his great missionary journey that will spread the gospel throughout the world.
So, what made the difference?
We see Paul discuss this in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, as he talks about his greatest boast:
"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands."
We see here that Paul came to consider his weakest, most humiliating moment since his conversion, that is, escaping with his life from Damascus, as his greatest moment, the moment he will boast most about! And now, let us revisit the greater context of Philippians 3:4-8:
"If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."
What Paul once considered as qualifying him to be a success for God (his ancestry, orthodoxy, morality, and activity) he now regards as barnyard dung (a more accurate translation of "rubbish"!). Paul can now say that God's grace is sufficient for him, that God's power is made perfect in his weakness, and that he will delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and in difficulties, for he knows that when he is weak, he is truly strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
So, here's the bottom line:
Whether you feel unqualified to be used by God like Rahab, or highly qualified to be used by God like Paul, God has unique plans for your life and is often in the business of reassigning roles to glorify His name! Scripture is packed with God's reassignments as He uses His people: slaves become princes (Joseph), shepherds become kings (David), a virgin becomes the mother of Jesus (Mary). Doesn't make sense, right?! The point is that whatever God calls you to do, God will work in you to use you for His glory...so let us fully cooperate with Him! Let us be open to any and every call God has on our lives (whether they make sense to us or not!) and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit to further advance God's Kingdom and bring Him ALL the glory!
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