A Basket Case

But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

Galatians 1:15-17

Since Paul uses his own experience as the example of the New Covenant, it is helpful to trace the way he came to learn this truth himself. Paul tells us that he went away into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Scripture doesn't tell us what he did there, but it's not difficult to figure out. We need only imagine the shock his conversion produced to realize that he desperately needed time to go back through the Scriptures and find how his discovery of the truth about Jesus related to the prophetic revelations he had trusted since childhood. As we might surmise, he found Jesus on every page. No wonder that when he returned to Damascus, he went into the same synagogues and began proclaiming and proving that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:19-21).

But the Jews were not responsive to his arguments. There was a conspiracy to kill him, and Paul's friends had to take him by night and lower him in a basket through an opening in the wall (Acts 9:23-25). What a humiliation to this dedicated young Christian! Paul had become — quite literally — a basket case! How confused he must have been as all his dreams of conquest for Jesus were halted. It was humiliating to be let down over the wall in a basket like a common criminal escaping from the law!

Where does he go next? He goes to Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. Once again he was determined to persuade the Greek-speaking Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah. But it is the Damascus story all over again. Years later, Paul tells us what happened, When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking. Quick! he said to me. Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me. (Acts 22:17-18) It is understandable that Paul would seek the comfort of the temple at this discouraging moment. There Jesus appeared, yet His message was anything but encouraging: Get out of Jerusalem. They will not receive your testimony concerning me. Paul argued, … these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him (Acts 22:19-20).

Here Paul gave himself away. He saw himself as the one person eminently qualified to reach the Jews for Christ. His argument was, Lord, you don't understand. If you send me out of Jerusalem, you are going to miss the opportunity of a lifetime. If anyone understands how these Jews think and reason, it is I. Lord, don't send me away. I have what it takes to reach these men.

Jesus' answer is to the point: Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles' (Acts 22:21). What a shattering blow! But Luke tells us, When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus (Acts 9:30). Tarsus was Paul's hometown. There is no tougher place to go as a Christian than back home. Paul tried his best to serve his Lord with all his ability, but it amounted to nothing. Paul was not the dynamic missionary he later became.

Lord, how many times have I tried to serve you in the flesh and ended up a basket case like Paul? Teach me to wait, knowing that nothing comes from me but everything comes from you. Amen.