Immediately after Paul's conversion, he took the message of Jesus the Christ to the synagogue of Damascus. All that heard him were completely amazed. Surely, this is not the same man who preached death and imprisonment. Yes, it was! What a miracle that was performed in Saul's heart. And, the longer he preached it, the stronger he got. He confounded those who listened.
Along with being confounded, after many days, their hearts filled with the thoughts and plots of murder. They must silence Saul; so they watched the gates day and night in order to kill him.
Acts 9:25 tells us something interesting, one night the disciples that were in Damascus put Saul in a basket and lowered him over the city wall. Rescuing him from the hands of the Jews that wanted to kill him. As a result, they set him free.
So, what happened to Saul? Where did he go? You have to turn to Galatians 1:17-19 to discover that Saul went to Arabia. For three years he stayed there, except for one quick visit back to Damascus.
Three years. Why would God miraculously save Saul, give him a bold message of Jesus the Messiah and then send him to the dessert for three years?
I. Don't. Know. But, I have an idea. God had to prepare Saul for the work that He had called him to perform. Paul, as he would later be named, knew that God had set him apart even from his mother's womb to preach the gospel among the gentiles. Yet, he had to spend time alone with the Father before beginning such a world changing work.
When God calls us to a mission, a ministry, or a service, sometimes there's a time of preparation and silence that must come first. We must be readied and matured in order to be where and what God needs us to be. Yes, He can instantly and miraculously transform a life; but, the conformation to accomplish His perfect will for our lives can take years.
What is God preparing you to do? Are you being molded to do a work that may be years from now?
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