The Wilds

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
Saul
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Acts 7:54-8:3 

[In this series we’ll be looking at people who lived in the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful, that He loves you and is always with you.]

  

Our youngest granddaughter Josie loves animals. Recently, my wife and I took her to a wildlife and safari park called The Wilds. They have 10,000 acres of rolling hills where wild animals from around the world are free to roam.

 

As your safari bus navigates the bumpy washboard dirt roads, the animals can walk right up to you. We had both camels and rhinoceros come within a few feet of us. My granddaughter thought the rhinos were “so adorable”.

 

Although the animals are wild, as the name of the park indicates, we didn’t observe any wild behavior per se. There was certainly nothing like the wild animal behavior that Stephen experienced from the Sanhedrin and Saul.

 

Beginning with Pentecost, the first century church was very visible. They met every day in public in the temple courts where the Apostles would perform signs and wonders and teach about Jesus. They even went from house to house proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Messiah.

 

Crowds of people gathered from towns around Jerusalem bringing their sick to be healed. The movement was spreading like wildfire. Literally, thousands of people had believed in the Lord.

 

The Christian church was so noticeable that the religious leaders couldn’t ignore them. In fact, they were furious with the apostles’ teaching to the point of wanting to put them to death. Instead, they bided their time which came quickly.

 

While in the temple, Stephen got into a heated argument with some religious leaders. As a result, they took him before the Sanhedrin having made false accusations of blasphemy. During his defense, Stephen said something that infuriated the Sanhedrin so much that they gnashed their teeth at him.

 

Then in a blind rage, they dragged him out to the edge of the city and stoned him to death with Saul’s approved. Their illegal act of capital punishment triggered more hatred for the church. It was like blood in the water attracting sharks.

 

^1b and on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ³ But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.      NASB

 

According to the New Bible Commentary, the word ravaging can be expounded to mean “like a wild beast does to the body of its victim”. In other words, Saul was so full of venomous hatred that he acted like a wild animal. That is, until he came face to face with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

 

We all have that wild animal instinct within us. It’s in our nature to rebel against the Lord. Thankfully, Jesus wants to show us his grace and mercy to bring us out of the wilderness; out of the wilds. Like he did with Saul.

 

Paul himself said it like this when he wrote to the church in Ephesus.

 

⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.            NIV

 

So, come meet Jesus… face to face.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

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