Scripture References: Philippians 3:5-6

Saul was a Pharisee. Now, I know that today, the word carries a negative connotation because of their many conflicts with Jesus, but remember that Saul is giving his qualifications as a Jew in this text. The sect of the Pharisees began a couple hundred years before Christ with the intent of combating the Hellenization of the Jews and a desire to restore purity to their religion. They had a strong focus on keeping the law. The Pharisees turned the 10 commandments into 613 prohibitions, including 39 kinds of work that was prohibited on the Sabbath Day.

I know that sounds a little bureaucratic and extreme, very legalistic, but their heart was in the right place, at the time, even if their efforts were misguided. Their “aim was not prudery but piety.” The Pharisees numbered around 6000 in Jesus’ time, the largest of the Jewish sects.

So Saul presented a very glowing resume, as far as the Pharisees were concerned, but Rabbi Saul never achieved greatness, not until a life changing (and name changing) event, a turning point as it were.

You may all remember that on the road to Damascus, Saul carried letters giving him the authority to persecute Christians from the Jewish leaders, yet unforeseen to Saul, God had another idea. “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:3–6).

God struck Saul to the ground and sent the proud man to Damascus with orders to wait until someone comes to tell him what to do. Saul went.

What was the journey like? He was a blind man going into an unfamiliar city to receive orders from a stranger. Did he stumble? Did he fall? Was he anxious? Why did God require him to “hurry up and wait?” Why didn’t God tell him what Saul needed to know right on the spot, instead of sending him, a blind man on an errand?

Saul had a choice to make. Did he return to Jerusalem and his former life, or did he forget about his privilege, throw his resume on the dung heap and embrace his future? He ambled into town, not in the light, but in the darkness. It was in the darkness, that he found his passion and ultimately achieved his greatness.

Many times, God does not engrave great people with passion in the light. God carves passion, that key element of greatness, on their character in the “dark night of the soul.”

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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