Blinded by the Light

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.  (Acts 9:3-9 ESV)


Saul, on the road to Damascus, was struck blind by the brightness of the light of the glory and presence of Jesus.  "Who are you, Lord?", he asked.  Isn't it interesting that his question was who are you instead of what is this?  He sensed the presence - life - not an inanimate thing.  This light was so full of life that somehow, Saul in his blindness KNEW.  And that presence commanded respect.  "Who are you Lord?"  He hadn't yet realized that he was in the presence of the LORD.  


Remember Paul's list of credentials?  If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.  (Philippians 3:5-6 ESV)  Here was a well-taught, respected, faithful Jewish man zealously fighting what he thought was God's battle only to be confronted by the very God he thought he was obeying.  When he thought he was fighting for and guarding the truth, he discovered he had, all along, been blind to Truth.  What a shock!


The reality of sin is so vividly described in this passage.  Do we realize our sins are not only against ourselves or our fellow man, but against God?  Do we really grasp that?  Saul persecuted the new Christians.  Jesus shows up on the road to Damascus in great glory and asks why Saul is persecuting him.  He asks us the same question.  Our sin is not a private matter; it is not a secret.  The Light of the world cannot be overcome by the darkness of sin and sin cannot hide from the light of Christ.


There's another part of Saul's story worth noting.  In Acts 9:1, Saul is described as "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord."  In that horrid state, he meets Jesus.  There is no condemnation, only the question "Why?" followed by instructions for Saul to go to the city and wait.  Saul's transformation is beginning.  The man, Paul, who is to take the Good News to the Gentiles, and become the author of so much of our New Testament, is being birthed from this violent, threatening, murderous persecutor, Saul.  The transformation begins in the light of Jesus - the light that confronted Saul's darkness and blindness and brought true vision, healing and new life.  Saul became Paul - a man zealous for the Gospel of Jesus, a man who knew the saving power of his Lord, a man whose eyes were opened to the truth by the One who IS Truth.

More Lessons from King Hezekiah

At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. (Isaiah 39:1-2)


Hezekiah opened up for display all his wealth and treasures to the men from Babylon.  They came from another country bringing letters and a present - traveling all that distance just to pay Hezekiah a visit.  Who wouldn't be flattered?  Our enemy rarely shows himself in his true colors - pure evil.  Why or how would we ever be drawn in if that were the case?  Remember these words:  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a  roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  (1Peter 5:8)  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14)  


We are often seduced through our pride.  Once we're vulnerable, exposed, we give our enemy a glimpse into the treasures he can plunder.  As was true for Hezekiah, all we have and are, are gifts from God (2 Chronicles 29:14).  In Hezekiah's prideful display, his sin was revealed and Isaiah prophesies that the very things he bragged about would be taken away during the reign of his son.  How amazing that Hezekiah's only response seems to be that he won't have to worry about it since these events would happen after his death and would not be his problem to deal with (see Isaiah 39:8).  The pride and self-centeredness is amazing!  Hezekiah has gone from (finally) falling on his knees before his God - the God of his people - in humility and wearing sackcloth to this boastful, arrogant man caught up in the enemy's flattery.  Prior to this event, God had healed the king of a condition that was fatal, granting him 15 more years of life.  Where is the thankfulness?  The gratitude?

We look at these stories and wonder.  If we, like Hezekiah, had been snatched from death's door, surely we'd behave differently!  We thank we'd never be as stiff-necked and rebellious as the Israelites who saw the incredible miracles of God as he delivered them from Egyptian oppression.  I challenge you (and myself!) to spend some time reflecting on the many blessings of God:  a home to live in, loving friends and family, the many and expensive "toys" and gadgets at close hand, our health, our jobs, etc., etc.  What is our attitude towards these things?  Are we, like Hezekiah, proud of ourselves for the ability to acquire all we have?  Are we seeking the praise and attention from those around us for all our accomplishments?  Are we holding out our hands for more or are we lifting our hands in praise and thanksgiving to the God who has poured out the blessings of our health, our intelligence, our abilities?  We can learn a lot from the story of Hezekiah.  God was, and will always be, faithful, loving, healing, just and merciful.  And God is also a jealous God:  my glory I will not give to another (Is. 48:11).

In closing, consider the words in Isaiah 48:17:  Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:  “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17) 

Lord, you have given us so much, so many gifts.  The greatest gift of all is your love.  Forgive our pride, our turning a blind eye to your many blessings.  Forgive our turning away from your love and turning a deaf ear to your voice calling out to us.  Create is us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.

When God Delays

Isaiah 36 and 37 relate the story of King Hezekiah and the people of Judah who are being threatened and invaded by the Assyrian army.  The attackers are mocking God, making false promises to the people and generally striking fear in every heart.  Garments are torn in distress, sackcloth is donned - the king and his people are in dire straits.  Hezekiah sends his assistants to the prophet Isaiah asking him to pray on their behalf:  And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the LORD your God  [emphasis mine] will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’”  (Isaiah 37:2-4)  


God hears and answers Isaiah's prayer:  Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land. (Isaiah 37:7)  This is only a temporary reprieve, the threats and mockery continue.  This time, however, Hezekiah himself goes to God in prayer.  And this time, he is seeking the LORD our God.  Isaiah delivers the word of the Lord:  Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him. . . . (Is. 37:21) This time there is not just a reprieve, but victory.  Was Hezekiah not trusting in God the first time?  Did he believe Isaiah's faith was somehow "better" than his own?  God waited for Hezekiah to come on his own, to seek the Lord, to cry out from his his heart on behalf of his people.


Granted, this is an ancient event but the reactions and tendencies of Hezekiah are all too relevant.  When have we ever relied on someone else's faith instead of going to God ourselves?  God only asks that we come to him just as we are:  weak faith, doubts . . . whatever.  Just come to him, seek his face, pour out our fears, our prayers, and leave it in his loving hands.  As in Hezekiah's story, God doesn't ignore others praying on our behalf or in our stead; but perhaps the fullness of his answer is waiting for our realization that God wants us to trust him and come to him in whatever state or condition we find ourselves.  We don't have to meet a certain standard before we can come before our heavenly Father.  Because of Jesus, we can come boldly before the throne of grace; not because of our goodness, worth or righteousness but because of Jesus'.  GRACE.


We don't have to seek out a "holier" friend to pray for us.  We have a friend who is already doing just that.  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25)  Out of the deep desire of our loving Father that we enter into relationship with him, God may allow our circumstances to be the very thing that finally brings us to come to him in prayer and humility.  Remember the story of Lazarus?  Upon hearing of the illness and death of his friend, Jesus delayed in going to Bethany because of his love for this dear family.  (John 11)  He knew the greater purpose to be accomplished, the more glorious demonstration of God's love.  So, he waited.  


Only God knows how Lazarus' sisters were being prepared in their hearts to receive this love - how their spiritual eyes were readied to view the truth behind the miracle they witnessed.  Nothing is wasted in God's kingdom.  He is faithful to complete the work he has begun in us.  When he delays, when he answers our prayers in part, don't lose heart.  Know that God's ways are perfect and beyond what we can see, know or understand.  Lean on him with all your heart, all your faith, no matter how "weak" you perceive it it be. It is enough.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)