Saul’s Retraining

On the road to Damascus Saul has a life altering encounter with Jesus. He repents and is baptized. Now it’s time for retraining.

Saul is a “Pharisee of Pharisees.” He spent his whole life memorizing and interpreting scriptures. He follows the Law of Moses with his whole being. And he is zealous in his persecution of any he believes are speaking against it. Those claiming to be of the Way are the recipients of Saul’s aggression.

But Jesus stops him in his tracks. Saul hears the truth and repents, gives his life to Jesus, and is baptized. Now he needs to learn to TRULY hear what the scriptures are saying. This has to be accomplished before he steps out to teach; which is what he is being called to do.

The letter he later writes to the Galatians gives us a glimpse into this time of training. It occurs in Arabia under the hand of the Holy Spirit. Let’s join Saul as the Lord first begins His work on him.

Holy Spirit, thank You for showing me portions that I missed as we traveled through the early church’s history. Thank You for helping me search beyond the surface. Help me to see the story You want to share today regarding Saul. I’ll take all the training time You want to give me! And I think he said the same thing in his day.

♥ ♦ ♥

For three days and nights, Paul pours his heart out to the Lord. He does not ask for healing. He feels unworthy of such a gift, after all the damage he has done to those who follow Jesus. He asks only for forgiveness and direction. He refuses all offers of food or drink the whole time.

On the third night of Saul’s vigil, God speaks to another man across town. His name is Ananias. He is a follower of the Way. He is a disciple taught by the apostles in Jerusalem. He left right after the death of Stephen. Saul had not started his murderous campaign by the time Ananias made his way to Damascus. But he has heard stories of the man and his mission.

“Ananias” (Acts 9:10a) God calls out.

Ananias KNOWS the voice of the Lord and immediately answers. “Here I am, Lord” (Acts 9:10b).

“Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, ¹² and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight” (Acts 9:11-12).

Ananias nearly falls out of bed with a start! “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name” (Acts 9:13-14).

God’s voice is firm. “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:15-16).

Ananias waits until first light before setting off for Judas’ house. When he arrives, Judas welcomes him, almost as if he were expecting his arrival.

“Welcome, brother Ananias. I have a meal waiting, if you would care to join me.”

“Thank you, brother Judas. But I have come for a purpose. I have come to see the man Saul from Tarsus.”

Judas nods and leads Ananias through the courtyard and to the room where Saul is staying.

“Saul, I have brought a friend who wishes to speak to you.”

Saul rises from his knees and faces the direction of the voice. “Please, enter.”

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17).

Saul stands still as Ananias approaches. “I’m going to put my hand over your eyes” Ananias says before touching Saul.

Saul nods slightly and stills again with Ananias’ touch.

“Jesus, merciful Savior. You brought me to Saul today to help him see You in a new light. You blinded him with Your radiance. Now I ask that You open his eyes and let him see the truth; physically and spiritually. In Your name I pray.”

The moment Ananias concluded his prayer, flakes begin to fall from Saul’s eyes. Ananias, Judas, and Saul all look at the small pile of them on the ground. They look almost like the scales one would see on a fish.

As Saul stares at them, he realizes that he can SEE again! He shouts; “Praise the Lord and His precious Son!”

Once these words leave Saul’s mouth, they are followed by the evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit that the believers have come to recognize so well. Saul is speaking in heavenly tongues and giving praise to God. Ananias and Judas join in praising God as well.

When they all are spent in praise, Ananias invites Saul to come and stay with him. “Together we will study the truth of Jesus. I will show you how He is the one the scriptures spoke so clearly of.”

“I would greatly appreciate that, brother Ananias, but I have this feeling that I am supposed to make a journey.”

“Where will you go?”

“I’m not certain yet, but I feel the Spirit leading me away from here for now. I am certain that I will return though.”

“When” asks Ananias.

“That I don’t know yet either. It is in the Lord’s hands.”

The next morning, Saul sets off on his journey. Ananias and Judas see him off.

“Is there anything you need before you set off” asks Judas.

“Your prayers and God’s leading is all I need. Thank you for being the instruments of the Lord in my time of need. I will NEVER forget this.”

Saul walks for weeks, being drawn away from everything he knows. He is following his future. The desert is his home now as the Lord leads him to Arabia. Paul doesn’t go to the cities, but spends time alone in the quiet of the desert.

“I’m here Lord,” Paul calls out as his spirit finally stops propelling him forward. He is near the mouth of a cave.

Paul looks inside and sees that this cave is empty. No one has used it in some time. This is where he will rest. Sleep quickly takes him. Peace reigns in his heart this night. When morning breaks, his learning begins.

Paul’s lessons begin with a revelation of Jesus. He is not certain of the Lord is actually with him, or if this is a vision. Paul converses with Jesus and listens as He explains the truth of the scriptures.

“You look surprised to see that the Messiah would suffer.”

“That is not what I was brought up believing, but I can see the truth now. How could I have missed this?”

“Because it was not yet time for you to see it. The religious leaders HAD to miss it for My Father’s plan to be completed. Their rejection of Me was crucial; especially for the Gentile to be able to come to faith.”

“Lord, I killed many who followed You. How do I live with that?”

“Through the same forgiveness that I offer to everyone. My death paid the price for ALL man’s sins. Not just sins against everyone but me. I forgave you the moment you poured out your heart.”

“But what about the people I hurt?”

“I welcomed them home. They are with me. And those that remain, who know of your past deeds will see My work in you. Your testimony will be one that cannot be denied.”

Jesus, through vision, revelation, or personal visitation teaches Paul of His life and the Father’s plan. Paul remains in ‘training’ for six months before he feels the release of the Spirit to move on. Not that God couldn’t have accomplished this training in one evening, but Paul relished this time with the Lord.

Paul leaves the cave that was his home behind and goes to the city of Petra. Here, he seeks out other Jews and begins to share with them the truths that he has learned. He moves from city to city, sharing with any who will listen for nearly a year and a half before returning to Damascus. Many come to faith in Jesus, but many more still refuse to believe. The more Saul speaks, the easier it becomes. By the time he is ready to return to Damascus, he is certain of his arguments and ready to present them before the people.

Saul returns to Damascus and begins proclaiming boldly in the synagogue that “Jesus Is Lord! ‘He is the Son of God’ (Acts 9:20).”

(to be continued)

Thank you for allowing me to go back and ‘pick up a stitch’ in the story of the early church. Yes, I used part of the story I had already written, but I trust you understand why. I’m not removing anything, only expanding to include newly discovered truth. And this truth comes from Galatians 1, where Paul shares this event briefly.

It was three years from Saul’s conversion until his return to Jerusalem. I don’t know if my ‘timeline’ is anywhere near accurate, but it is what I felt was reasonable. Only God knows for certain, and He doesn’t require that I go any farther than trusting what He has revealed to us through His word. My timeline doesn’t alter doctrine so I’m good with it.

I would LOVE to be taught as Paul was! I wonder if I can count my ‘story time’ with the Spirit as that kind of teaching? The stories flow from places I cannot point to as from anywhere but the Spirit. I won’t call them scripture text, but I trust they are what God gives me to share.

Father God, thank You for allowing me to share Your stories. Thank You for even giving me a single story from You. I believe this is YOUR gift to me to use however You desire. Let me ALWAYS be listening to what YOU have to say as we walk through Your word.

Open my eyes Lord, for I truly want to see Jesus as He was, is, and always will be.