Providential Protection

Introduction

Last week, I highlighted the life of Darlene Rose and how God provided comfort even in her prison cell. This morning I would like to start with a story from the life of Corrie ten Boom. The ten Boom family lived in Holland during WWII and when the Germans invaded, they began hiding Jews. Eventually, they were caught and sent off to concentration camps where most of Corrie’s family would die. As they were being processed, they had to be strip searched, showered and given prison cloths to wear.

One of the rules in the camp was that no one was allowed any personal possessions. Could you imagine leaving everything you own behind? Corrie and Betsie, who were together in the camp, knew that they could never live without their miniature Bible, so Corrie asked God to help her sneak her bible into the camp. She knew this could get her in trouble, even killed, but she wanted to read God’s word, which brought her the most comfort.  The Holy Spirit gave Corrie a good idea: when the guard checking them into the concentration camp told her to give him all her possessions, she asked where the bathroom was.  Surprisingly, he jerked his head in the direction of the bathroom and let Betsie and Corrie go!  Betsie said, “Quick! Give me your sweater!  Corrie took Betsie’s sweater, wrapped the bible and vitamins inside (Betsie would get very sick without her vitamins), and hid it behind some furniture in the bathroom.  After they went through the first checkpoint and took their showers, Corrie picked out the baggiest prison dress she could find and hid the sweater, vitamins and bible underneath.  But the prison dress was so thin, anyone with eyes could see the bulge under her dress.  She just kept praying, “please God, make it so the guards don’t see.”  The woman ahead of Corrie was searched three times, feeling her body from head to toe.  Then, they just let Corrie walk right through, and went ahead to body search Betsie.  When they finally made it to their barracks, Corrie thanked God for letting them have the bible, the sweater, and the vitamins inside the camp.- From Nancy’s Hero Stories

While we might look at an event like this an think a great miracle has happened, there is a better word for what just happened in Corrie’s life: Providence: the working of his power to uphold, guide, and care for his creation. When we speak of providence, we speak of the Acts of God working behind the scenes to accomplish His will in the world. God didn’t post angels in front of Corrie ten Boom, He didn’t strike the guards with blindness, nor did He make the bible and vitamins invisible. God worked in the heart of the guard to let Corrie go to the restroom. He worked in the circumstances to allow them to revisit that restroom to retrieve the Bible. He put it into the heart of the guard doing the body searches to skip Corrie. None of these on their own were miraculous events, but God was active in the lives of Corrie ten Boom and her sister to provide the spiritual and physical help they needed at this moment.

As I said last week, when it comes to these trial stories in the life of Paul it is difficult to decide what to preach on. Spurgeon only preached one message his entire life from this chapter of the bible, but I don’t want to skip over anything because I know it is all necessary for our lives. When I took a step back to look at this chapter from a birds eye view, God’s providence was clearly seen in Paul’s life.

In fact, vs 12-35 are the evidence that God is going to keep his promise to bring Paul to Rome safety. God works behind the scenes to keep Paul safe, to deliver him from a secret plot and to get him on his way towards Rome. While Paul sat in a prison cell discouraged and Jesus comforts him, God is working behind the scenes to protect Paul. And all the plans of the enemy are thwarted and they are humiliated. During my prayer time this week I meditated on Psalm 68:1 “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: Let them also that hate him flee before him.” God’s plan for Paul would not be thwarted.

The Plot

Vs 12-13While Paul is sitting in prison, the next morning a group of people got together to hatch a plan to kill Paul. I find it amazing how many times problems are brewing in the background and we may not even know what is going on. Here Paul sits, now comforted by God oblivious that at that very moment, men are plotting to take his life. How many circumstances have we been delivered from that maybe we didn’t even know anything about?

Our family has been continuing to listen to the story of Darlene Rose and she recounts a situation where in the middle of the night she got up because she thought she heard rats. A short black clothed object much larger than a rat came wishing by her. In a moment she recognized that it was one of her gardeners who used to work for them. Years, later she came back and asked that man what he was doing in there. A group of nationals had gotten together to try and rob the missionary women, but while they were in the act they saw men dressed in white robs standing around the house keeping watch. When they saw those men they fled for their lives. Darlene had not seen any men, but God was watching out for her and had appointed his angels to keep watch.

Vs 14 It is often behind our backs that those who would stand against us contrive their plots. Secret meetings and plans are hatched. These men were serious to do harm to Paul. They were so serious they bound themselves under a curse: an oath with consequences. In essence this is what they were saying:

“So may God do to us, if we eat or drink anything until Paul is dead” People who are so violently against Christianity when all we do is preach the bible.

These men were serious about their faith. They thought they were doing what was right in trying to take out Paul. Those who oppose God’s work often do think they are in the right. They have all kinds of reasons they can give you for why they are opposing what God is doing. These men had a sense of urgency; they couldn’t allow Paul to address any more people lest they be swayed from the truth. While their reasoning would have made sense to a Jew, God was not in it.

Vs 15 Having planned their attack, they lobbied the support of others. Those who oppose God’s work are never satisfied with being against something themself. They have to lobby others to follow in their cause. This is why church splits rarely happen with just one person leaving the church; they often take others with them. These men try to lobby the sanhedrin to join in their cause and help them to ambush Paul. Considering the Sanhedrin was split in their support moments ago, this might seem strange, but obviously the Pharisees and Sadducees have come to terms to oppose Paul. According to vs 20, the Sanhedrin agreed to the plot. Romans 1:32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” It soothes our conscience if we can get others to join us in our sin.

The Discovery

Paul’s Nephew overhears the plot and goes to tell Paul. Even though Paul was from Tarsus, we read earlier that he was raised in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. Paul’s family was also one of influence; so it makes sense that his relative should be able to hear this plot.

Plots are hatched in secret and so we think no one is aware of the sin we are planning to do. How many times have we had to sneak around to try to get away with something we know is wrong. I have tried to teach my children that unless it is a birthday party, if you have to sneak around to do something, you are most likely sinning. While men may not know what you are doing, God does.

Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.”

Heb 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

God uncovers plots that men think are hidden. Make no mistake, you will not get away with sin. God knows and God will judge.

Paul’s Nephew is taken to the Centurion who then sends him to Lysias.

The Intervention

Vs 20-21 Paul’s Nephew then boldly tells Lysias not to give in to the request of the Jews because they are plotting to attack. As you read the story here you see two signs that this is a young man if not a little boy. He is called in vs 18 a young man and then in vs 19 Lysias takes him by the hand to calm him down. I don’t see a grown man doing that for an adult or even really an older teenager. And yet, this little boy does not hold back to tell Lysias the truth because lives are at stake. Are we this bold when people’s spiritual lives are on the line?

Vs 22 Lysias tells him to go home and tell no one. I believe that there are possibly two reasons for this request:

So the plotters don’t find out.

So Lysias doesn’t have any problems with the Jews if they were to find out.

Vs 23 Paul is shipped off in the middle of the night to Caesarea which was a Gentile town and a safer place for him to be tried. There as less of a chance that someone would try to assassinate him or that there would be a revolt.

We have in vs 26-30 a letter from Lysias to Felix. If you are thinking, you might be asking how did Luke know what Lysias wrote. This wasn’t a public letter. We could come up with possibilities, but I believe this passage just highlights God’s inspiration of the text. Even the private letters of Lysias and Felix are known to God.

What stands out in this section is that God’s plans are fulfilled through unlikely means.

a little boy- God doesn’t have some militant Roman spy unearth the plot. He doesn’t even have a Pharisee in the temple reveal the plan; but a little boy. Children, you may not realize it, but God can use you. You are never to little to do something for God. This boy was available and willing to do what God wanted him to do. He didn’t even realize at the moment how God was using him, but God’s hand was on this little boy.

a Roman army- God also used a roman army to protect Paul to get him along on his way to Rome. Lysias sends a huge attachment of soldiers with Paul. Atleast 200 footmen, 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen; that is 470 soldiers who escort Paul out of Jerusalem at midnight. Now once they are on their way only the 70 horsemen continue going with Paul, but that is still a lot of people. These were not Roman Catholic soldiers marching to protect the man of God. These were pagan Roman soldiers, men who could care less about God. God is not limited to using believers to doing his will. God can move even people who hate God to accomplish his will.

The Departure

Paul is eventually delivered to Felix along with Lysias’ letter. Felix determines to hear Paul’s case when his accuser show up. The passage ends with Paul in Herod’s judgment hall. In English those words seem forboding like he is in a prison cell about to be judged and maybe even tortured, but this is actually Herod’s palace that the Romans took over when he died of the worms in Acts 12.

Paul is put in a place of relative ease and luxury for a time being. Even in all of his trials, God is looking out for him and gives him moments of ease.

End with Psalm56 responsive reading.

Conclusion

When I think of the providence of God, I remember home room devotions with Mrs. Sublett. She would often remind us of how much we didn’t know about what God was doing behind the scenes to take care of us. We only see the results. You got in a car today and drove here. God could have protected you from a car crash and you wouldn’t even know it. But as we look back over our lives, it is beneficial to remember all the times that God has taken care of you through those ordinary means. Similar to last week, I challenge you to meditate on those times. Make a list. Thank God for what He has done to get you here today in your life.

I am not calling for us to repent this morning of some sin, I am asking those who are willing to come down front and just spend a few moments thanking God for His providence in your life. Find 2 or 3 key events in your life, that God’s hand clearly touched and lets praise Him today.