I often read a piece of scripture and wonder: “why?” – what was the plan here? Why this way?
Take Paul & Silas, on their way to a house of worship and they are accosted by a girl with a spirit of divination. A fortune teller.
Reading the passage, we know she was also pretty good at it, because although she was a slave, she was making her owners enough money from it that when they brought charges against Paul and Silas at the authorities, they were immediately heard and acted upon.
But think what was happening. This, I dare say, well known and accurate fortune teller was walking behind Paul and Silas with a message… Shouting out loud for all to hear.
The person in the area that had some of the greatest influence on the day to day lives of the inhabitants was proclaiming:
”These men are servants of the Great High God, and they are telling us how to be saved!”
(Acts 16:17 TPT)
Fast forward the next bit. Paul gets irritated and casts out the spirit. The owners realise their money is gone, and gets them beaten and thrown into jail. And the girl’s words come true.
After some events, the jailer asks “What must I do to be saved?” (v30)
Wow! Great Story!
But Acts 16 shows us a bit of Paul’s humanity. Paul and Silas were travelling together because Paul and Barnabas had such a heated argument that they parted ways. Paul couldn’t forgive. And he couldn’t back down.
Then we see Paul get irritated and cast out a spirit. Not in love, not in obedience to God’s instruction, but in irritation and frustration. (Think for a minute what that says about our control over Holy Spirit power!?)
Next, Paul’s arrogance kicks in. Paul refuses to leave the jail, after God sent an earthquake that broke open all the doors, AND then they were officially released. No, the leaders of the city had to come and personally apologise. I see a bit of the “old Saul” personality shining through!
And this gives me great comfort. As holy as we make them out to be. God uses ordinary men. Flawed, broken, often hungry, men. They were not perfect, but God made them and saw them as perfect through Christ, for His Glory. We do not need to be perfect to be useful… just obedient.
I see my shortcomings and flaws as stumbling blocks that I need to get rid of before God can use me, but God sees with different eyes.
Paul’s “personality flaws” set him on a road to share the gospel into the heart of Rome. Purpose, not punishment.
Is a child’s almost rebelliously strong will not perhaps the unbreakable tenacity God will be using 26 years from now? God… help me to shape it and not break it!
We serve a great God and loving Father!
