Who likes goodbyes? They are always so hard, especially if you are never going to see the person again, or for a very long time. Farewells can lead us to homecomings, or to blue skies ahead!
Paul arrives in Ephesus and meets with the elders of the church. As he begins, he reminds them, “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20: 12)
Paul is saying goodbye to his friends telling them he is compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to him.
What did that statement mean? I’m sure they wondered and even asked him. Paul knew the voice of the Holy Spirit, which had revealed to him what awaited him in Jerusalem–his capture!
- The Spirit reveals all things, even things to come.
As Paul is giving his farewell speech to the church in Ephesus, he gives some pointers as he encourages them. He says this:
1. Keep watch over yourselves and your flock. (Acts 20: 28)
2. Be shepherds of the church. (Acts 20: 28)
3. Be on your guard. (Acts 20: 30)
4. Commit to God and to the Word of Grace. (Acts 20: 32)
5. Remember the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than receive.” (Acts 20: 35)
Then he knelt with them and prayed. They all wept and were grieved that they would never see his face again.
As it turned out, it seems that Paul did revisit Ephesus as recorded in 1 Timothy 1: 3. Since this incident is not recorded in Acts, it probably occurred before his Roman imprisonment.
- Doors and windows open when not expected. (Taken from Acts 20: 17-38, Paraphrased)
Job gives a farewell to his friends, but a welcome to the Lord. Now Job speaks respectfully to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted. My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42: 2, 4) Job realizes that he can now accept God’s plan for His life, even if suffering is included.
- If God brings us to it, He’ll bring us through it.
Job prays for his friends while God lets them know he was not happy with them. His counselors mouthed many correct and beautiful statements, but never acknowledged and honored the God they claimed to know.
- True friendships will cry and pray with us, and listen to us, and not continually correct us.
His battle is finally over! It seems like a long time reading this! God blesses Job after he prays for his friends. The Lord made him very prosperous again and gave him back twice as much as he had before. He even gave him ten children. He lived 140 years and died, old and full of years.
- In our times of suffering, we cannot see the end from the beginning like our God. Trust Him in the beginning and all the way through till the end.
- Even through loss, He has more in store for us! (Taken from Job 42, Paraphrased)
Samson finds a bride and gets a farewell. He sees his bride in the distance and tells his mom and dad that he wants this woman as his wife. She was a Philistine, and the command to the Israelites was not to intermarry with pagan nations. “His parents did not know that this was from the Lord.” (Judges 14: 4)
- The Lord uses our weakness to accomplish His purposes.
This was an ungodly marriage. One commentary added, “He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines.”
As he goes back to the town, to meet his bride to be, a young lion comes roaring toward him. “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his are hands as he might have torn a young goat.” (Judges 14: 6)
- “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5: 8)
- The power of the Holy Spirit shall cause you to overcome by resisting him and standing firm in your faith.
Samson composes a riddle looking for someone to interpret it. His wife wants to take it to her people, the Philistines, so she manipulates her husband, saying, “You don’t love me.” He falls right into her trap and gives her the answer to the riddle.
- Be on guard for manipulative people. Ask the Lord to help you sniff them out.
- Don’t step into manipulative traps, they will bring destruction.
His wife leaves Samson and runs into the arms of their best man. Samson’s response: Rage! In his rage, he goes to find his wife, catches 300 foxes, ties their tails together, and catches them on fire with the vineyards and olive groves. Basically, destroys their land, all because of his rage, and because his father-in-law wouldn’t tell him where his wife is.
In retaliation, the Philistines pay him back and burn his wife and her father. Samson gets more revenge.
- Retaliation, causes wars, not just on the outside, but within.
- Anger and rage are the food that feeds that.
Samson fights and hides in a cave. He slays 1000 men with the jawbone of a donkey. Samson is a one-man army, fighting alone.
- God still uses weak men to fulfill His purposes.
Miraculously, God provides water for Samson, just as He provided for the Israelites in the desert.
- Jesus is our life-sustaining Living Water.
Our farewells and fought battles often open doors for what lies ahead. Job discovered that. Just ahead, could be blue ocean waters and blue skies, that you are to sail right into. If the waves are rough right now in your life, ride it out. Jesus likes showing up in boats and speaking to the storms.
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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