Topic: Christian Living; God’s Care

Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. (Acts 23:16, ESV)

A raging flood trapped a man in his house. On his knees, he desperately prayed for God to save him. At that moment, his neighbor in a canoe came up to the second story window and cried, "Get in!" "No, go without me," the man replied, "God will save me."

The waters rose and forced the man to his roof. A rescue helicopter buzzed in and lowered a rope ladder. "Climb up!" the pilot shouted. "Save someone else," the man yelled back, "God will save me."

Eventually the floodwaters swept him away and he drowned. While this man was confident of God’s rescue, he had real trouble recognizing God’s methods.

Paul was also waiting confidently for a rescue. After all, God promised him that he would testify for God in Rome. So Paul wasn’t worried about the Jew’s plot to kill him, he just didn’t know what method God would use to rescue him from prison.

Maybe it would be with an earthquake, like the one which freed him and Silas in Philippi (See Acts 16). Maybe he’d get an angel escort like Peter experienced (See Acts 12).

In this case, God chose to use Paul’s nephew and the tribune to save Paul from the murderous plot. God could have sent an angel. He could have rained down fire on the 40 men waiting in ambush. He could even have snatched Paul away and dropped him directly in Rome. But Paul was wise enough to recognize God’s plan and act on it.

And don’t miss the example of Paul’s nephew. When he heard about the plot to kill his uncle, he didn’t worry about whether or not he was the right person to expose it, he just did it.

Maybe God’s calling you to rescue a neighbor or a friend today. Sure, God could appear to them like He did to Paul (Acts 9). But if God’s given you the words to say, don’t let anything stop you from sharing them.