The king rose, and with him the governor [Festus]…and those sitting with them. They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, “This man [Paul] is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” [King] Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” ( Acts 26:30–32, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Paul was in a bind when he appealed to Caesar. His life was in jeopardy from the Jewish religious leaders. He may even have thought he was being pretty clever in engineering his own rescue from this fate. But there was more going on here than meets the eye. Perhaps he had forgotten that earlier in Jerusalem the LORD telling Him, “take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (Acts 23:11, NIV 1984).
“After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: ‘You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!” (Acts 25:12, NIV 1984). Paul may have made the appeal and Festus may have made it happen. but God had already determined that it should be so.
We have this same assurance as Paul in times of peril. Times that will certainly come to us. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV 1984). And so shall we. “For there is a greater power with us than [in the world]. {the world] is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God.” (2 Chronicles 32:7–8, NIV 1984).
My Advice – Be of good courage and be encouraged. Though our world may crumble beneath our feet, our God still reigns.
The Brew Is A Musing 