Wednesday, 8 January 2020

What got Paul into trouble?

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Question of the day: What was it that Paul said to get in so much trouble?

Answer: Acts 22 records the answer. It surprises me, so I thought I would write about it. Paul is speaking to the members of the Sanhedrin. He is telling his testimony of how Yeshua spoke with him (Paul) in the Temple in Jerusalem. Acts 22:21 "And he (Yeshua) said to me (Paul), 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

Why would this push them over the edge? Paul had already testified that Yeshua appeared to him twice. They didn't react to that, but when Paul says God told him to go far away to the Gentiles, the Sanhedrin erupts. I find that strange.

Acts 22:22 "Up to this statement they listened to him. Then they raised their voices, saying, 'Away from the earth with this fellow! For he's not fit to live!'"

The anointing (or calling) to be a light to the nations (goyim) has always applied to Israel and the Son of God Who would come out of Israel. This was prophesied by Isaiah (42:6 and49:6) as a continuation of the promise made in the Torah to Abraham. Genesis 12:3b "in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

1500 years after that promise was made by God to Father Abraham, Paul is confirming his call to walk in it. He should have been applauded, but instead they railed against him. These are those who had eyes but could not see. (Jeremiah 5:21 and Psalm 135:16)

This points us to a paradox. The one place (in Yeshua) where all the issues of life are solved for all people (including Jewish people) is the one place Jewish people are forbidden to look for answers (or anything else).

Let's pray during this season of harvest that the Lord will appear to His people in dreams and visions. Paul wasn't looking, but God appeared. May God appear to Jewish

people everywhere who are themselves not looking. In Yeshua's name. Amen.