“And the barbarous people … kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.” Acts 28:2-6
Certain experiences of life get us to know a bit of what goes on in the hearts of people towards us. You never can imagine the thoughts or expectations of the person sitting next to you; working close with you; living together with you; entertaining you with the best they have, relating with you in one way or the other, except God reveals them in some way. You may think all is well as you relate with some people until they inadvertently voice out their thoughts, imaginations or expectations which may not resonate with the thoughts that God has towards you. For such negative expectations, we can only pray that they become frustrated. We can also pray that every thought and imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge and purposes of God concerning us are cast down and destroyed.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;..” 2 Corinthians 10:5
It is however reassuring to know that what goes on in God’s heart towards us are constantly beautiful thoughts. His thoughts towards us are good; they are thoughts on how we can become better and our lives bring out His praise and glory; that our lives and future become beautiful and reflect His beauty.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
The Barbarous people, though very welcoming and hospitable to Paul and the other prisoners on board the ill-fated ship, could not help but think as natural humans would have, when they saw the venomous snake fasten round Paul’s hands. They expected the worst afterwards but they got another result after they had looked out for Paul dropping dead.
I am usually touched by this passage; they looked and waited but were never able to see Paul drop dead! They expected that what happened to Paul was going to finish Paul up; he who though had earlier on escaped the catastrophe of the seas; but alas, it wasn’t so! They thought the fastening of the snake round Paul was the reward of an evil he had done but it wasn’t so.
How so many people think that when we go through challenges in life, it is because we had done something wrong somewhere; that we had sinned against God but it is not always so.
Challenges do come, because we are in the warfront with the devil as believers not necessarily because we have sinned against God. However, usually, when we sin against the instructions of God as believers, the consequences are bound to happen but not in this particular case of Paul.
So, the Barbarous people expected to see Paul drop dead; but he never did (at least on account of the snake encounter). That experience became a miracle!! What was supposed to bring a negative outcome rather brought out a positive result. The people saw the glory of God in Paul; infact they thought he was a god himself.
May everything we experience in life continue to work together for our good and for the glory of God! May every negative expectation towards me (& you) be frustrated & thwarted and may the beauty and glory of God be revealed in every situation. May every evil that the enemy intends for us turn around for our victory; our good and for the praise of God. Amen!
© Funmi Adebayo
