It Starts Small

¹⁵ But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. ¹⁷ I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus

Galatians 1:15-17

The plans of God do not change!

God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart

Many people fervently question, “Why would God create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Did He foresee the choices Adam and Eve would make? Could this have been an error?” Let me assure you, God absolutely knew. You see, God has only ever operated on plan A; there is no plan B! With divine intention, God chose Paul as the torchbearer. Paul carried the gospel to the Gentiles. God set him apart even before his very beginning. While Paul was oblivious to this magnificent purpose, God was aware all along. God crafted a beautiful and intricate plan for Paul’s life. Rest assured, He has an equally profound plan for yours!

God is sovereign.

He employs even the most wayward souls to fulfill His divine plans. He fashions their destinies long before they take their first breath. I have pondered this profound mystery. I strive to understand how God weaves the choices of those who bear the weight of their sins into His grand design. I reflect on how their actions play a role. God clearly directs His devoted followers. He guides them to act in accordance with His will. What leaves me in awe is the unexpected transformation of misguided hearts (me). In this intricate tapestry of faith and free will, the ultimate truth remains: God’s will prevails, transcending all human imperfections.

I am overwhelmed by the profound mystery of God’s ability. He takes even the most sinful choices of fallen humans and weaves them into His divine plan. These individuals actively strive to rebel against Him and His purpose, yet somehow, astonishingly, they unwittingly fulfill His sovereign will! How can this be? The answer strikes me with clarity: He is God! This is the very reason why I struggle to grasp it. It’s a breathtaking aspect of His sovereignty that transcends human understanding. (See Isaiah 55:8-9)

Did God’s plan for Jesus and salvation involve only foreknowledge? This means He merely knew it ahead of time. Or was it also predestined, meaning He planned it ahead of time? The answer is BOTH. (See Acts 4:27-28 and 1 Corinthians 2:6-7.)

God’s foreknowledge powerfully illustrates a remarkable element of His character: omniscience. His act of predestination unveils another vital dimension of His nature: omnipotence. These profound concepts are intricately intertwined. They are nearly inseparable, as we witness in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God both knew and appointed Jeremiah ahead of time. The same can be said for Paul.

Set me apart

God uniquely set Paul apart, igniting a divine plan and an extraordinary calling just for him. For a season, Paul walked his own path, living life on his own terms. Yet, in a breathtaking moment, God broke through time, intervening in Paul’s journey in spectacular fashion. Jesus manifested Himself in a miraculous vision, and in that instant, Paul’s life was utterly transformed. The remainder of Paul’s story fiercely shows his relentless pursuit of God’s calling. His passion knew no bounds.

How about you? Are you set apart? Do you have a calling? If so, what is it? Are you spending your time zealously fulfilling this calling?

God’s plan for the Gentiles

In verse 16, we witness the exhilarating revelation of God’s divine plan for Paul. He is to boldly carry the gospel to the Gentiles! This wasn’t merely an afterthought. It was a vibrant thread woven through the fabric of history. Whispers date back to Genesis 3 and 12. They echo in countless verses throughout the Old Testament. God envisioned a glorious purpose for the entire world long before creation itself. Nothing could stand in the way of this breathtaking destiny being fulfilled!

Nothing in history did or could happen which could change God’s plan.

History is His Story! God’s magnificent plan of salvation for the Gentiles was set in motion before the dawn of creation. His patience in unfolding this divine strategy is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Imagine this: 4,000 years may have passed from the moment of creation. Then Paul began his groundbreaking mission to share the gospel with the Gentiles! One cannot help but wonder, why did He wait so long?

I wonder if 4,000 years was but a split moment of time for the Lord. We may not possess the exact answer, but one truth is crystal clear: it was indeed God’s magnificent plan! He chose the moment the “fullness of time” had come (Galatians 4:4-7), proving He acts with unparalleled timing. It was at just the right moment that everything unfolded! This revelation shows us that God meticulously orchestrates not only the events of our lives but also their timing. His timing is absolutely perfect for everything, and recognizing this is profoundly important for us!

Are you yearning for something? Do you find yourself questioning why God doesn’t allow it to unfold now? Has He forgotten you? God, who intricately knows the count of every hair on your head, also understands your deepest desires. If it is truly meant for your good, He will bestow it upon you at the perfect moment. Are you eagerly waiting for marriage? Hold on tight to your patience! If the wedding bells haven’t yet rung, then simply put, the right moment is still on its way. Are you longing for that promotion? Keep the faith! If recognition hasn’t come your way yet, remember, the ideal time is still in the making. Are you anxious to don that graduation cap? Stay steadfast! The moment is yet to arrive!

Don’t squander your life longing for a distant future! Embrace the present and equip yourself, so when God declares the moment has arrived, you are ready to seize it! The Israelites, in their time, were largely unprepared for Jesus’ arrival. Remember the parable of the ten virgins—half weren’t ready for His glorious second coming. Are you truly prepared?

I did not immediately consult with anyone.

Remember the grand narrative of this passage! Paul defends his apostleship. He strives to ensure that the people’s hearts and minds remain untainted by insidious false teachers. These teachers dared to undermine both him and the powerful gospel he passionately preached. Paul boldly asserts that God Himself bestows upon him the authority as an apostle. It is not bestowed by the esteemed apostles in Jerusalem. He didn’t rush to meet them immediately after his conversion. There was a significant three-year span before he first encountered Jerusalem. So, what was Paul immersed in during those three transformative years? The honest truth is, “We don’t know.”

These three years are the most obscure of any in Paul’s life after conversion – Acts simply does not mention his time in Arabia.

There are numerous theories swirling around Paul’s time in Arabia, yet at their core, they remain just that—theories. Paul experienced a powerful transformation and received his divine calling. Yet, he chose to spend three long years in the wilderness of Arabia. He was preparing for his monumental mission. This fascinating period echoes the trials of Moses during his formative years in Midian. He prepared to lead God’s people from the chains of Egypt. It also mirrors the profound solitude of John the Baptist in the wilderness. Additionally, it reflects the intense spiritual challenge faced by Jesus during His 40 days in the desert.

It’s exhilarating to think about Paul’s time there. He was fervently preparing for the monumental task ahead of him. Those transformative three years he spent in Arabia reflect a significant period. Jesus dedicated the very same time to training His original apostles. Paul utilized this period to spiritually arm himself. He did so through intense prayer, profound meditation, and immersing himself in the Word. Perhaps he even received personal guidance from Jesus for the colossal mission that lay before him.

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Cross References:

• Isaiah 55:8-9
• Acts 4:27-28
• 1 Corinthians 2:6-7
• Jeremiah 1:5
• Galatians 4:4-7

Questions to Ponder:

• What do we learn about God’s plan for Paul? When did God predestine Paul for ministry? What does this teach us about God?
• What was Paul’s calling? What is your calling? Can you identify it as clearly as Paul identified his? Are you currently working toward fulfilling God’s calling for your life?
• What does Paul mean that he did not immediately consult with flesh and blood?
• Where did he go after conversion? For how long? Why? Why does he share this with the Galatians?

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