Figuring It Out

These men and their stupid ideas. Gamaliel shifted uncomfortably in his seat while yet another Pharisee started listing his extermination ideas. He rubbed his face in frustration. When were these men going to get it? Why did they keep fighting this? These men were opposing God, and until they got it through their thick noggins they would be in this place forever.

They were being completely foolish.

Gamaliel stood up, and a hush fell across the room. "Take the accused men outside for a little while." Several guards helped the men in chains from the raised dais in the middle of the room. He waited until the men had filed out of the room before turning towards the particularly pompous group of Pharisees.

"Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" His voice rose quite high as the final word pierced the air.

Gamaliel's chest heaved up and down. The other men shifted their eyes around the room, anywhere around the room to avoid looking directly at him. The truth of his words had hit them like a donkey kick to the gut.

The oldest Pharisee of the bunch, the patriarch of the group, stood up. "I agree with Gamaliel." The others around the room slowly started to nod their consent.

Based on Acts 5:33-40

"When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, 'Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!' So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go."

Acts 5:33-40

This is a nice reminder that we don't want to be in opposition to God.

If only the Pharisees had figured this out sooner and stuck to it, eh?

But have we figured it out?

So many times in the Bible, you see ordinary, clueless people who were stuck in their ways, desperately trying to cling to their idea of how God works. They resisted God with the force and passion of a raging typhoon.

Is that us? It's difficult to take a close look at our hearts and admit if we are resisting God. It's hard, uncomfortable, and usually not something we want to acknowledge. However, the alternative is actively resisting God... The thought of doing that because of my stubbornness and pride makes me want to cry. That is the last thing I want to do!

Let's take a look at our hearts, and see if we are resisting God's will in an area of our lives. If we are, let's relinquish control. Let's stop fighting God. Instead of pointing at the Pharisees and others who haven't figured it out, let's figure it out ourselves.

V. Joy Palmer