Asking for directions ∙∙
The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. – Exodus 13:21
Acts 16:6-10
6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.
7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.
9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
Years ago, in the era before GPS became our reliable navigator, Bob embarked on a journey to visit his new friend, Tom. Tom’s home was perched atop a lofty hill, nestled deep within a dense forest, accessible only by a maze of country roads. The path was a labyrinth of gravel tracks, driveways, and nameless routes, all blending indistinctly into one another. At ground level, the way forward seemed a bewildering maze.
Yet, from his vantage point atop the hill, Tom had a clear view of the landscape. Spotting Bob’s car from afar, he took to his cell phone, offering precise directions. With Tom’s guidance, Bob was able to discern the right turns at the correct times, navigating through the confusion with ease.
This journey mirrors the way our Father guides each of His children. He has a unique plan for every one of us, constantly aware of our position within the vast tapestry of life. From His omniscient perspective, He employs a myriad of methods to direct us toward our predetermined paths, ensuring we reach our divine destinations.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
To experience the Father’s guidance requires three things from us.
- We need confidence that the Father knows what He is doing.
- We need to ask Him for directions and guidance.
- We need to learn to listen and follow instructions.
REFLECT & PRAY
At times, we find ourselves entangled in our own stubbornness, choosing to forge our paths rather than seek guidance from the Father. It’s all too easy to overlook the help He offers, missing opportunities for His wisdom to lead us.
Father, I trust in Your love and know that You have my best interests at heart. Help me to become more receptive, to open my heart to Your guidance, and to depend on You for direction in my life.
INSIGHT
The Father masterfully orchestrates opportunities, opening and closing doors as part of His divine plan. Some opportunities are time-sensitive and require prompt action. On the night that the Lord Jesus Christ was born, what would have happened if the shepherds had disregarded the angelic messenger (Luke 2:8-20)? Or the story of the good Samaritan; what if he had ignored and passed by the robbed and beaten man (Luke 10:30-37)?
The Father doesn’t always reveal everything at once. Instead, He encourages us to depend on Him, guiding us moment-by-moment and step-by-step. Through this continuous reliance, we are invited into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. Sometimes, He leads by putting up stop signs that are intended to get us to pause, reflect, and trust in His perfect timing.
Acts 16:6 The Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.
Acts 16:7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.
Paul and his companions crafted a thoughtful strategy for spreading the gospel and making disciples, yet they remained ever-attuned to the Spirit’s lead. The Father desires a harmonious blend of our planning with His divine guidance (Stanley).
In His sovereign wisdom, the Father had a definite plan in mind. He intended for Paul to journey westward into Europe rather than eastward into Asia. The Holy Spirit decisively closed the paths leading east and north, twice redirecting their course.
Pause for a moment and consider that they were actually prevented from preaching the gospel in certain areas. How could this be? The Father’s eternal plan operates on divine priorities. His guidance became unmistakably clear through a vision given to Paul—a Macedonian man standing and pleading for help.
Acts 16:9 captures this pivotal moment: That night, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, who stood pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
This narrative underscores the essential alignment of human intentions with divine direction, showcasing how, sometimes, what seems like a closed door leads to more significant roles in the Father’s expansive plan.
The Father operates with impeccable timing, crafting ideal circumstances and guiding each child of the King to their destined place.
Consider the Ethiopian eunuch who had journeyed to Jerusalem to worship and was now on his way back home. He traveled in a chariot spacious enough for him to sit and read as someone else navigated. Engrossed in a scroll of Isaiah, the eunuch sought wisdom and understanding, his heart yearning for insight. Recognizing this silent prayer, the Father orchestrated a divine encounter by sending Philip, directed by an angel.
Acts 8:26 recounts this divine intervention: “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’”
This story beautifully illustrates how the Father’s guidance and perfect timing to realize His grand design. As Philip approached the Ethiopian, the Holy Spirit spoke to him again.
Acts 8:29-31
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The Ethiopian was reading about the suffering servant in Isaiah 53.
Acts 8:34-35
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.
In a transformative moment, the Ethiopian eunuch embraced faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and eagerly asked Philip to baptize him. Philip complied, and after the baptism was completed, something extraordinary happened—the Holy Spirit suddenly took Philip away. The details of this miraculous departure remain a mystery, but they carry a deeper significance.
As described in Acts 8:39, “And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”
While roadblocks and bumps along the way can be confusing and challenging, His detours are actually the fastest and most direct paths to bring us exactly where He wants us to be. Each “detour” aligns with His perfect plan.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯10-05-2
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 