May 22, 2008 - Acts 5:38-39

“’Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.’” Acts 5:38-39.
Gamaliel, one of the wisest teachers of the Law in his time, gave the Jewish Council some very balanced advice. Instead of dealing harshly with the leaders of what they perceived to be a cult, just let time take care of the problem. He helped this body of leaders realize that other groups had come and gone, and if this group was like them, they would disappear after a short while. Yet, if God was really behind it, there was not much that they were going to be able to do to stop it. This council was all stirred up before, but Gamaliel, with his wise words, settled them down.
Our world today is not really that much different from the dynamics at work in this meeting. They got stirred up when something came along that threatened their status quo. In my life, I realize that I, too, get stirred up, worrying and fretting, over issues that, often times, I can do very little, if anything, to change. Situations are frequently happening around me that I perceive could threaten my way of life, and I find that my initial reaction is not particularly favorable. Yet, when I take time to reflect on the situation, I often realize that, like Gamaliel’s advice, if it is “of human origin”, it will work its way out, and “if it is from God”, I won’t be able to stop it anyway. Amazingly, within His economy, God allows us to have a say in matters through prayer, yet He will have His way.
Questions to consider: If you were a member of this Jewish Council, how do you suppose you would have responded to Gamaliel? Have you ever found yourself on the wrong side of an issue that turned out to be God’s direction? What was your response?
Prayer: Lord, help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit’s direction, as He blows in and through my life and my world. Help me to humble myself and to slow myself down enough to hear Your heart. Amen.