God’s plan is not disrupted by human power games.
Do you ever feel like things just aren’t moving along, and you’ve been stuck in the same place in your life for a long time? Don’t worry. You’re not the first to feel that way.
Two years pass for Paul in prison. Then Felix is succeeded by Festus. The Jewish leaders urge Festus to transfer Paul to Jerusalem because they want to ambush and kill Paul on the way. Luke writes that Festus “wanted to please the Jews.” (Acts 25:9).
Sounds innocent, doesn’t it?
But beneath those words lies a tension. As Roman governor, it is Festus’s duty to maintain peace in Judea. Festus knows that the accusations against Paul are weak: Paul is actually not guilty. Why, then, does he consider sending him to Jerusalem? Maybe because political peace is more important in his role than personal justice?
It is easy to be quick to condemn Festus for his cowardice.
But how often do we not also seek consensus over truth? How often do we water down our convictions to avoid conflict?
Paul refuses to play along with that game. The accusations are serious, but unproven. And so he appeals to the emperor. In doing so, he not only protects his life—he moves, without fully understanding the consequences, toward God's promise that he will bear witness in Rome.
Years earlier, God had said that Paul would testify in Rome. Paul’s desperate way out becomes a step toward God’s promise.
Our lesson? God’s plan is not disrupted by human power games. He turns a lawsuit into a route and a delay into the preparation of His plan.
God works through complex systems or difficult situations to carry out His plan. Sometimes it takes a while for us to see it, and in other cases, we might never fully understand.
Are you willing to trust Him nonetheless?
