Very Hungry Assassins

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Acts 23

13 There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. 14 They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. (Acts 23:13-14 NLT)

Paul was helpless in prison and a plot was underway to assassinate him! A group of Jerusalem Jews, driven by hatred and jealousy, made a solemn vow to kill Paul. They had a plan that was pretty much guaranteed to work. There was nothing Paul could do!

But God had other plans for Paul. God somehow arranged for Paul’s nephew to overhear the assassins plotting Paul’s murder. He told Paul, and Paul sent him to the guard captain. The captain believed his story and mobilized two hundred soldiers, seventy cavalry, and two hundred light infantry to get Paul out of harm’s way. The assassins must have gotten very hungry if they kept their vow!

But God didn’t set Paul free. Instead, he had him shipped off to a more secure prison where his enemies couldn’t get at him.

If I’m committed to cooperating with God’s plan for my life, and willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill that plan, I don’t have to worry about people who may oppose or circumstances that may interfere. God can mobilize the resources to keep me safe, even if the safety turns out to be a more secure jail than the one I’m already in!

Here’s a scripture God brought to my attention a few years ago that has become part of my daily reading:

11 The Lord has said to me in the strongest terms: “Do not think like everyone else does. 12 Do not be afraid that some plan conceived behind closed doors will be the end of you. 13 Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else.’’  (Isaiah 8:11-13 NLT)

Prayer:

Father, Please help me not to waste a bit of my energy nor a moment of my time worrying about what others do or don’t do and how the outcome of people’s schemes and tricks will impact my life and purpose. I trust you to mobilize heaven’s resources to keep me on track with your plan for my life. Amen.