Paul's Godly Delay Galatians 1:17 - Equipped for Battle

Why does it seem that sometimes there is a delay when we desire to serve the Lord Jesus? Is it because we need training, teaching or experience? Do we need circumstances, situations or trials which must be endured before we fulfill our calling from God? As Paul the apostle addresses the church members in Galatia, we get an idea of the delay which he experienced as he was training in the ways of the gospel. We read previously that he did not go unto flesh and blood to receive his training, and in chapter one and verse seventeen we find more insight into Paul's actions when he first accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He wrote:

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Paul says first, “Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me;” When Paul was first converted to Jesus Christ, we might think he should immediately go to the apostles to inform them. Let us remember that he was a Pharisee of Pharisees, and he was a zealous advocate for the Jewish religion. Wouldn't it be wise to let them know of such a marvelous conversion? Not according to Paul. He did not confer with “flesh and blood”. So just what did he do?

Paul wrote, “but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.” Paul went to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Perhaps he went to share with distant Gentiles, but more than likely went for further training in the gospel from the Lord Jesus Himself. Paul began right away preaching the gospel in the synagogue in Damascus, however, after only a few days of preaching, the people desired to kill him. (We read the account of this in the book of Acts in chapter nine and verses twenty through twenty-five.) They actually let him down the walls of Damascus by night to escape from the people's fury. So Paul left there for a while till the anger was subsided. But the marvelous tenacity of Paul is demonstrated as he returned to the very place they were trying to kill him, “returned again unto Damascus.” If we read much of Paul's accounts in the book of Acts we will discover that this was a common trait of his.

Paul didn't go to the hierarchy or well-known in the Christian religion when he was first saved. Namedropping and people of advantage seems to be a normal course of action when people are seeking advancement in a particular field, and it isn't much different when it comes to spiritual matters. For most people, they enjoy being taught from people who are “in the know”, and well-advanced in order to state that they have done so. We rather should be like Paul who sought the Lord as His teacher primarily. There may be others who are used by the Lord for training, but it is the Lord Himself from whom we should gain our knowledge of the gospel. When we set our eyes and ears upon Him, we shall have no greater training regardless of the credentials our teachers may hold.

Next time we discover more of Paul's delay after he received the grace of God, so read ahead, and let us join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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