But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb …
Summary: God sees us for what we are, even when we can’t.
How did God know he should set Paul “apart” from his birth? Is it enough to say that God is God? Do you find that answer satisfying?
I hate to say it, but I doubt that any answer we come up with today will be satisfying. There are too many areas that people disagree on. However, there are things we can discuss that are factual and interesting.
Matthew, chapter thirteen, includes a parable about wheat and weeds. In the King James Version, the weeds are called “tares.” In both cases, the Greek word used in Matthew’s text is “zizanion.”
The Greek “zizanion” is a technical term for a specific type of plant that resembles wheat. Its Latin name is “Lolium temulentum.” It is also called “darnel” or “false grain.”*
Why is this important?
The parable Jesus tells begins this way, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.” (Matthew 13:24-25)
When asked to explain this parable, Jesus says, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.” (Matthew 13:37-39)
Jesus clearly states that there are “people of the kingdom” and “people of the evil one.” Remember that when Adam and Eve sinned, the serpent promised that their “eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3: 5) What he didn’t say was that we would be able to tell the difference between the two.
So here we are, stuck in a world with the people of God’s kingdom and “people of the evil one,” and no way to tell the difference.
Well, that is not exactly true, is it?
Jesus taught that we can recognize good and bad prophets by their “fruit” (Matthew 7:16). Yet who would have guessed that Paul was one of God’s people when he was rounding up Christians and throwing them in prison?
This, no doubt, is one of the reasons Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek:
“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5: 39)
In Paul’s case, if he had appeared to you as an “evil person,” and you had struck him, you would have been risking harm to God’s anointed servant (2 Corinthians 1: 21-22). I’m not sure I would want to stand before the throne of God and have to explain that one!
Application: Life is complicated. Trust Jesus.
Food for Thought: How does knowing Paul was set apart to be God’s servant from birth change how you think about beggars you see on the side of the road?
*References:
“G2215 – zizanion – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 30 Dec, 2023. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2215/kjv/tr/0-1/.
See also: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/wheats-evil-twin-has-been-intoxicating-humans-for-centuries
We never know how someone’s life is going to turn. We can’t see how the Lord may work in their life.
The bigger problem for us, is if we look down on others, we are assuming somehow that we are superior to them. That is exactly how the world is operating everyday with virtue signaling. But we are making assumptions about the beggar on the side of the road of which we are ignorant. Plus, we are not better and from God’s point of view we just might be the beggar on the side of the road. Luke 18: 9 – 14: Matthew 25: 31 – 46.
Great observation, Rich!
I struggle with being quick to judge, and I suspect others do as well. It is a dangerous trap we do well to avoid.
01-01-2024, How does knowing Paul was set apart to be God’s servant from birth change how you think about beggars you see on the side of the road?
God is all-powerful, He is all-knowing, and present everywhere, there is nothing He does not know, past, present and future.
John 1:3, Acts 17:28, Colossians 1:17
Everything God does has an intelligent purpose, a definite goal. God’s power is universal, and so is His knowledge. God knows everything in himself, our Bible often refers to God’s knowledge being universal.
Psalm 147:5, John 21:17, Hebrews 4:12-13, 1 John 3:20.
Nothing will ever happen that is a surprise to God.
1Samuel 10:2, 1Kings 13:1-4, 2 Kings 8:12, Psalm 139:4, Acts 2:23, 4:27-28.
Before creation of this world, God in His infinite knowledge, knew every single event, the name of every person who would be born, what environment they would be born into, as well as every choice each would make during their lifetime. However, we do not know what we will choose for lunch today.
I do not know what choices the bigger has made that led him to his current situation. Outside restaurant’s I have refused to give them money, but offered to buy them a meal, and been turned down. I have listened to their stories and led others to the Lord and watched them cry as I gave them money for food.
Let the Lord lead us as we walk through this life on earth fully aware of the fact that we are each to give an accounting of our decisions and actions while on earth.
Ron,
Very well said! I like how you bring us back to following the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Thank you!