What distresses you? Perhaps it’s injustice, hypocrisy, or deception? Whatever it is, God allows distresses sometimes for us to do something about, what we are distressed over.
For Paul in Athens, “He was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” (Acts 17: 16) While he was waiting for Timothy and Silas to join him, he had a good look around the city, and what he saw he didn’t like. It distressed him, greatly.
Once again, Paul is in the synagogue trying to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks. He’s in the marketplace, day by day, as well, telling of Jesus and the resurrection.
- Marketplace ministry is still on God’s radar.
A dispute arose with Paul from philosophers calling him a babbler. They accused him to be advocating foreign gods because he was preaching about the resurrection of Jesus.
So they invite him to a meeting of the Council in Athens. He stands up in the meeting says, “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.” (Acts 17: 22) He shares how he has walked around looking carefully at all the objects of worship and finds an inscription saying, “To an unknown God.”
What? Yes, the Greeks were fearful of offending any god by failing to give him attention, so they felt they could cover anything they omitted by labeling, “To an unknown god.”
Well, that becomes the focal point for Paul to preach from. He tells them of the “God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. He Himself gives all men life, breath and everything else.” (Acts 17: 24-25)
He also includes that, “God determines the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” (Acts 17: 26)
- If you are asking about a location or relocation, God will let you know when and where. He will position you in the right place at the right time.
He concludes by saying that we are His offspring, which means that our God cannot be made of stone, silver, or gold, nor from any image made by the design of man and skill.
Some sneered at him and others said they wanted to hear again on this subject. Paul left the meeting. A few of those present became followers.
If God has called you to preach, some will sneer and some may believe. Just listen to what He’s telling you to do. (Taken from Acts 17: 16-34, Paraphrased)
Elihu, still talking to Job, is describing the voice of the Lord and marvels at His greatness. “Listen to the roar of His voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.” (Job 37: 2)
- Focusing on God’s greatness can release distress from focusing on what’s wrong. Change your focus.
Elihu wants to change Job’s focus, by saying, “Listen to this Job, stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge? Can you join Him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?” (Job 37: 15-18)
He concludes by saying, “The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. (Job 37: 23) (Taken from Job 37, Paraphrased)
Still Seeing The Power of God. Gideon’s army is seeing the power of the Lord. He was told by the Lord to decrease the size of his army. He starts at 22,000 then goes down to 10,000. God says it’s still too big; so Gideon reduces it down to only 300! Really?
The Lord decreased the size of the army so that Israel would know that the victory was by His power, not theirs.
- Yes, may He increase and I decrease.
- He must remain big, and I remain small.
Gideon takes his army into battle and they defeat the Midianites with only 300 men. The people want Gideon to rule over them, but He told them the Lord would be their leader. He asks them if he could have an earring from each man from their share of the plunder. The Israelites were eager to give him that. So they spread out a garment, and each man threw a ring from his own plunder to contribute. The weight was large enough to make a gold ephod, which he placed in his hometown. “All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.” (Judges 8: 27)
- What was meant to be a commemorative item, became an idol.
- Watch for those snares, the enemy sets traps with them.
The land enjoyed forty years of peace, during Gideon’s lifetime. He then died at a good old age. No sooner after his death, the Israelites went back to worshiping Baal idols again. They did not remember that God has rescued them from the hands of the enemies on every side. Nor did they show kindness to Gideon’s family.
The distress that Paul felt in Athens was because of the idols. The Israelites embraced idols, once again, even after God smashed down their altars.
I felt some distress when reading this, knowing that the people of God didn’t get it. They embraced the gods of Baal, when the God of the entire universe, just rescued them and fought for them and showed his mighty power, again and again. Oh, what a patient God we serve.
- What we embrace, is what we empower.
- Embrace Truth and let it empower and set you free.
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
You can find all of the Unbroken Love series posts by clicking the button below.
