Asking Questions – 2

Background
Yesterday I posed some questions about the events in Acts 9:10 – 19.  The concept is that when something in scripture seems odd, it isn’t.  It is there for a reason.  In this case, I suggested that one purpose might be to have the individuals, Paul and Ananias, learn from the events.  So I posed that question.

Answers
Here are my responses to the questions.

1. What was the lesson for Saul?
   • The call of God for redemption is through the Body of Christ.  Individual believers are instrumental in the propagation of the Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:14ff.
   • Forgiveness is not dependent on the heinous nature of an offense, 1 Timothy 1:15
   • God will sometimes intervene and stop persecution, thus if He allows it, it is part of His plan and has purpose.  (see further note "God's Sovereignty" below)
2. What was the lesson for Ananias?
   • He is useful to the Lord
   • The Lord’s assignments do not align always with logic.
   • He cannot prejudge a person’s usefulness to the Lord
   • God allows us to question Him without retaliation, He is gracious.
3. What is the lesson for me?
   • A person’s known behavior past or present is not an indication of their value to the Lord in the administration of His Kingdom.
   • I can know that even in the midst of a group of very bad people God may have His hand on someone.
   • God is sovereign over the events in my life.

God’s Sovereignty
Note: Saul was called to be the apostle to the Gentiles.  We read in Acts 9:19b – 22 that he immediately began to proclaim Christ.  However, before he was converted God used him.  Look at Acts 8:1 – 3, Saul was leading the persecution of the church in Jerusalem, it was that persecution that caused the scattering of the disciples and the initial spread of the gospel including the gentiles that came to Christ in Antioch.  God was using Saul to accomplish His will before Saul trusted Christ.