As they stretched him
out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for
you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the
commander and reported it.... Then the
commander said [to Paul], “I had to pay a big price for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul
replied. Those who were about to
question him withdrew immediately. The
commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman
citizen, in chains. Acts 22:25-26a,
28-29 [Read today's text in Acts 22:22-29.]
When we were in the fifth grade, my friend, Mike, and I were walking home after another fun winter evening of ice skating at the public rink. As we approached the bridge that would take us over the river to the West side of town, there came toward us some high-school “toughs” who had earned their dubious reputations. I was greatly relieved to find them content merely to harass us verbally before continuing on their way. Mike, however, was a bit prone to sass and, true to form, he turned around and yelled something smart-alecky back to them.
It didn’t take these guys long to reverse course and catch up to us! The leader, Jim, grabbed Mike by his coat with clear intentions of inflicting a beating. I figured I was next. (And it was all so unnecessary!) But displaying a modicum of wisdom of which I thought him incapable, Jim paused long enough to ask, “What is your name?” When Mike told him, Jim let go ... for Mike had two older brothers in high school. Though they didn't know it, Mike’s brothers had stood behind us.
In far deeper trouble than Mike and me, the Apostle Paul appealed to a far more formidable “older brother” – Rome. Contrary to our nation, which is predicated upon the “self evident” and “unalienable” rights of the individual, people in that time and place were not considered to be “created equal,” nor were human liberties recognized as being “endowed by their Creator.” Rather, one’s freedoms in Ancient Rome depended on his relationship to the state, the grantor of rights. And so it was that behind Paul, its citizen by birth, stood Rome itself. Seeing this, those who had illegally shackled him and who were about to flog him “withdrew immediately.” Like Jim, they let go.
We all need someone bigger than us standing behind us. God has promised – and proved – himself to that “someone.” When Egypt pursued the departing Israelites, “the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them” and the pillar of cloud “also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. (Exodus 14:19-20)” He is with us on a very personal level, also, as King David marveled, “You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5)”
God is faithful to protect us, even when, like Mike, we are unaware of his influence. And when we do appeal to him, like Paul, we see his authority at work. As Isaiah proclaimed, “How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.... Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ (Isaiah
30:19b, 21)”
His authority is unparalleled. His faithfulness is unmeasurable. We can trust him.
Our God stands behind us.
When we were in the fifth grade, my friend, Mike, and I were walking home after another fun winter evening of ice skating at the public rink. As we approached the bridge that would take us over the river to the West side of town, there came toward us some high-school “toughs” who had earned their dubious reputations. I was greatly relieved to find them content merely to harass us verbally before continuing on their way. Mike, however, was a bit prone to sass and, true to form, he turned around and yelled something smart-alecky back to them.
It didn’t take these guys long to reverse course and catch up to us! The leader, Jim, grabbed Mike by his coat with clear intentions of inflicting a beating. I figured I was next. (And it was all so unnecessary!) But displaying a modicum of wisdom of which I thought him incapable, Jim paused long enough to ask, “What is your name?” When Mike told him, Jim let go ... for Mike had two older brothers in high school. Though they didn't know it, Mike’s brothers had stood behind us.
In far deeper trouble than Mike and me, the Apostle Paul appealed to a far more formidable “older brother” – Rome. Contrary to our nation, which is predicated upon the “self evident” and “unalienable” rights of the individual, people in that time and place were not considered to be “created equal,” nor were human liberties recognized as being “endowed by their Creator.” Rather, one’s freedoms in Ancient Rome depended on his relationship to the state, the grantor of rights. And so it was that behind Paul, its citizen by birth, stood Rome itself. Seeing this, those who had illegally shackled him and who were about to flog him “withdrew immediately.” Like Jim, they let go.
We all need someone bigger than us standing behind us. God has promised – and proved – himself to that “someone.” When Egypt pursued the departing Israelites, “the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them” and the pillar of cloud “also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. (Exodus 14:19-20)” He is with us on a very personal level, also, as King David marveled, “You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5)”
God is faithful to protect us, even when, like Mike, we are unaware of his influence. And when we do appeal to him, like Paul, we see his authority at work. As Isaiah proclaimed, “How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.... Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ (Isaiah
30:19b, 21)”
His authority is unparalleled. His faithfulness is unmeasurable. We can trust him.
Our God stands behind us.
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