Devotion Acts 16:6-10 The Leading Of God

Acts 16:6-10 – Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.”  Paul and company were kept from preaching the Word in the province of Asia. (See the below map.)  We can see that from Iconium they were traveling west right toward the regions of Phrygia.  Some suppose that the group meant to go through Phrygia to Ephesus.  But the Holy Spirit did not let them go into Phrygia so they were led north.  With Phrygia on the West and Galatia on the East of them, they were clearly being led to a specific destination.  They travelled north to Bithynia, but again the Spirit of God, here noted as the Spirit of Jesus (our triune God is One), did not allow them to enter it.  We see how specifically God guided them, having them thread their way north and not entering into areas to their right or left, but to head north.  Hemmed in they came to Bithynia and were stopped from going into it as then they had to turn left (West) and travel in that direction to Troas.  Again they were being directed on a very specific path that did not allow them to turn north or south.  They were led to Troas.  As we are given further details we can see the hand of God not only by the fact that they were very specifically led by God, but also by what happens in Troas.  If they had been allowed to follow their own plans, they would have hit the coast of the Aegean Sea at Ephesus and not Troas.  But the Lord directed them to Troas for very specific reasons.

The question that begs to be answered is how was the Holy Spirit leading them?  How was He directing them from not going one place to going to another place?  Luke does not say how this was being done, so we can’t say for sure.  We must always remember that if Scripture does not tell us, then we must honor that.  Not that we cannot indirectly deduce, but we should not be dogmatic about what we consider to be facts but which scripture does not clearly verify.  Some believe that the Holy Spirit spoke audibly to them.  Even the Cessationists believe that the God communicated in such a way then.  Also we can safely believe that the Lord used someone to give a prophecy, since we know that God did use New Testament prophets to speak to Paul (Acts 21:10-11).  Possibly the Lord created some unknown (to us) circumstance that prevented them from going in the directions they were not to go.  Although we are not directed, all these are certainly possible.

Interesting is that while the venerable doctor has been writing in third person, in V10 he switches to first person, as he then includes himself as part of the group by the use of “we.”  Here let us also remember that Paul was not the kind of person to take “No” easily.  He was stoned in Lystra (Acts 14:20) and then went right back into it.  He was warned by the prophet Agabus of the danger he faced if going to Jerusalem, Paul went anyway.  So what would dissuade Paul from going into Phrygia, Galatia and Bithynia?  How strong was the direction he was receiving?  Was Paul just listening better now than he had been when he was stoned at Lystra?  Or was there a strong reason he did not enter these cities?

Many Bible scholars believe that on this trip Paul was struck by an Asian fever that was so severe his eyesight would be permanently damaged (Galatians 4:13-15).  Now, since Paul was so overcome by this illness, the Lord led him to Troas, where Luke lets us know that he is now a part of the group.  We know that Luke was a doctor.  So Paul became sick and was led on a specific path to Troas where he met Dr. Luke who could travel with him and treat him.  Later, Luke who was a great scholar, would write the Gospel according to Luke and also the book of Acts.  God wanted these two to meet.  As a result, Paul’s illness could be treated and Luke would have the benefit of knowing and traveling with Paul and would later write two books of the New Testament.  Family and Friends, that certainly looks like a plan of God coming together.

We are not told that Paul and his company knew what God was doing as He was directing them.  They merely obeyed.  In order to obey, first they had to hear.

Some may think that God wouldn’t work that way because it would not be a part of God’s plan for Paul to get sick.  That thought is not in line with all of scripture.  It is also not in line with God’s word.  Nor is that in line with the contemporary evidence we have.  Joni Eareckson Tada became a quadriplegic after a diving accident.  Through her suffering and pain she has been greatly used by God. God has used her injury.   Pastor Jon Courson relates a story of when he was a freshman in high school.  Although not gifted to be long distance runner like his brother, he worked hard to try to be.  Before his first meet he got sick and developed pneumonia that scarred his lungs.  He had to drop off his high school team long distance team.  Then he saw the discus throwers.  He figured he could do that so he tried out for that and excelled at that.  In fact he broke records and even got into college on a scholarship.  He had not been a gifted runner, but was a gifted discus thrower.  So God blessed John by allowing him to get sick and thereby leading him to be the discus thrower he was meant to be.  Family and Friends, we worry over the immediate, God is concerned with our greater and our eternal benefits.  Jon is happy that he got sick and found discus throwing.  He praises God for His using sickness to lead him.

We must always be open to God’s leading.  If we do not know how to be led by the Holy Spirit, then spend time alone with Him and do a lot of time both praying and also listening.  Get to know the voice of God (John 10:27).  Understand and know Him by spending time with Him and reading the Word concerning Him.  Besides, He is the one who inspired men to write all of scripture (2 Peter 1:21).  And concerning that, the men who wrote the Word of God did that as guided, as directed, as told by the Holy Spirit of God.  Although the Bible is completed and only a heretic would add to it, still the Holy Spirit is faithful to His mission in leading, teaching and speaking to us.  God does not love us less than first century Christians.  He does not want them to have a deeper understanding than us.  In fact utilizing what they gave to us (The Word) we should know at least as much.  All by the Holy Spirit.  All by the Word which has bequeathed to all of us.

Also Family, God uses each of us to enlighten each of us.  Get with someone who does hear from God.  Don’t join a pack of those who cannot hear and adopt them as your pack and let that be your guide.  Trust God.  Desire His promises and grasp onto them, never letting them go.  Let the promises of God define your walk with Him.  We are all called to hear God in a very special way that God has for all of us.

Family, draw near to God and He will draw near to us (James 4:8).  Jesus died so that we would have an eternal and intimate relationship with God.  Jesus gave us a personal invited in Matthew 11:28-30.  Jesus has said His people would know His voice.  If we haven’t yet learned how to that only means that we have yet to learn.  Not that it is not meant for us.  The only thing that blocks us from hearing God’s voice is our giving up, or worse, our own obstinacy.  And oh, we all know, how obstinate we can be!  Yes, all of us!  But God keeps open the invitation to speak and listen to Him.   He wants that for all of us.  Praise God and hear His response.  Praise God!