Footsteps #77

Paul’s second missionary journey is filled with a fascinating array of diverse experiences: exorcisms, quiet witness­ing on a riverside, beatings, conversions, rejections, public evange­lism, jail time, chaotic mob attacks, and so on. There’s a tendency to assess God’s presence and His will in our lives based on a spectrum of good or bad results. The chronicle of Paul’s exploits challenges that notion and shows that we, like Paul, can be at the centre of God’s will, and yet still be undergoing horrendous challenges and outright pain.  

An ancient parable tells of an old man whose horse escaped. His neighbours came to console him. “Such bad luck,” they bemoaned. But the old man seemed unaffected and replied, “Whether it is a bad or good thing, I cannot tell.” A bit confused, the neighbours went home. Later that afternoon, the neighbours returned upon hearing the news that the escaped stallion had returned, bringing with it a herd of horses. “What amazing good luck you have,” gushed the neighbours. The old man again mused, “Whether it is a bad or good thing, I cannot tell.” Again, the neighbours went home, only to return later to console the man because his son had injured his foot riding one of the new horses. The neighbours and the old man exchanged the same meta­physical reflections as before over the latest happening. Finally, the local army marched through town, compelling all able-bodied young men to join them in a dangerous tribal assault. The old man’s son was exempt because of his injury. The neighbours once again returned and congratulated the old man’s good fortune, but of course, they were met again with a wisdom they did not possess. Instinctively we tend to respond to situations like the neighbours and therefore we tend to ask the “why God?” questions when things appear to be against us.  

It is not easy to find providence in chaos. Like bookends in the NT, Jesus comes as Emmanuel, i.e. “God with us” Matt.1:23, and foreshadows the eternal new heaven and new earth, where “God Himself shall be with them.”  What can you expect from the “with-God life?” Read Paul’s account in 2Cor.11:24-27.