[Paul speaking] "Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.  Thoughts for Today:
I think it is not by coincidence that Paul calls upon Elymas the same type of affliction (blindness) that was the result of his own encounter with the Lord. Remember from Acts 9:8-9, "Saul [Paul] got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." Paul learned a lot in those three days, not everything he was going to need to know, but the one thing he needed to know more than anything else: complete reliance on the Lord.
Up until his conversion Paul was raging and trampling upon God's people. His sight needed to be taken away for him to see the truth about Jesus. The point he is trying to make to Elymas: "You are on your own track right now (not God's). I see some of my old self in you. You need some time to re-consider your direction." However, the question remains: will Elymas ultimately "see" the Lord in this experience, allowing the Lord to "lead him by the hand", and change accordingly; or will he go back to his old ways when his sight returns? Questions to Ponder:When tragedy strikes we become "blinded," not necessarily literally but figuratively. We realize that we are not in control and have that feeling of helplessness, much like Elymas, who "groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand." Do you ever feel like that, groping about seeking someone to lead you by the hand? Jesus' hand is always there, firm and waiting. His path is certain. So what is it you don't like, the firmness of the hand or the certainty of the direction? To be led you have to be willing, are you willing? |
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