While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” – Acts 26:12-14
In this verse, the apostle Paul is speaking to King Herod Agrippa in defense of his ministry. He is giving his testimony (for the 5th time in Acts!) as a means of evangelizing to an audience, a technique of spreading the Gospel we could all learn from. What I find interesting is a part of the last sentence that Jesus mentions to Saul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
I pondered what this saying actually meant? Upon further investigation, I discovered that it’s a Greek idiom referring to an animal’s futile resistance to being prodded with goads. Goads were pointed sticks that farmers and shepherds used to direct their animals, either oxen when plowing the fields or sheep being directed into holding pens. They were used to exert influence and control over an animal.
At times the rebellious animal would refuse the gentle prod by kicking against it. It was then that the farmer or shepherd would simply drive the goad into their flesh inflicting pain and thus training the animal to obey their wills. The more the animal rebelled, the more the animal suffered.
Jesus was using a common phrase that most people would have recognized; He was wondering why Saul was kicking against the goads Christ was using to direct his life. Saul was simply rebelling against God.
This saying is also found in other ancient Greek writings. It usually refers to someone opposing the direction of any type of deity.
Many people are “kicking against the goads,” wondering why life is so hard and where God is during their hardship or turmoil. This verse ought to make us all evaluate where we are in our walk with Christ. Are we kicking against the goads of Christ’s gentle prodding? If we are, Christ said that it would be hard. Or are we obeying His will and allowing His influence to direct our lives?
I believe it was the smart animals that avoided the harsher poking and learned how to allow their masters to influence their wills. There’s a lesson for all of us to learn here!
In Christ,
Dave
Questions to Ponder:
- Just like the farmer used the goad to direct his oxen, Christ uses circumstances and opportunities in our lives to direct us. What do you believe Christ has done to “poke” you in the right direction?
- This verse lends credit to the assumption that Saul knew that Christ was the Messiah but deliberately refused to accept Him as Lord and Savior. His position in the Sanhedrin combined with pride could have prevented him from doing the right thing. Have you ever experienced the same thing Saul did? Has pride kept you from doing the will of God?
- Have you ever persecuted Christ?
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