Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Trust and Obey (don't write about the song) (05/21/15)
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TITLE: Catch the Chariot | Previous Challenge Entry
By Bonnie Bradlee
05/26/15 -
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Philip watched from the wall. He arrived at this place from Jerusalem in fear, fear for his life, for being a follower of the Way, fear of the people here because of the stories he'd heard. These were the dreaded Samaritans, those who had allowed themselves to be corrupted, those whose worship was no longer True. But arriving here, running for his life from the persecution, he found them to be kind, loving, and real, different from those who followed the Sanhedrin, the ones who killed Jesus, Stephen, and so many others. Solace was found with the ones he had been taught to fear, and fear came from those who were meant to give solace.
He watched with joy as more Samaritans were filled with Holy Spirit, pouring out adoration to God in their new language of love. Suddenly a voice said, "Leave this place and go to a land that I will show you." He shook his head, digging a finger in his ear, thinking there must have been a fly buzzing. Again the voice said, "Leave this place. Go to a land that I will show you." There must be a mistake. Those were words spoken to Abraham, father of a great nation. But the voice came again, softer, gentler, yet compelling, "Just start walking, My friend. I will show you the way to go."
Philip picked up his pack, walked to Peter in the middle of the room, saying, "Hey, Pete, I gotta go. I'm not sure what it is, but I've got something I have to do."
Peter, still in the throes of excitement for the Samaritans receiving Holy Spirit, gave a wave of dismissal, "Yeah, sure. See ya later."
Philip walked out the door into brilliant sunlight, the voice saying, "Go south to the road, the desert road, that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." And so he did. He walked the dry, dusty path that served as a road, twisting and turning through the desert, sun beating down, the breeze gently wafting all traces of moisture from his skin. In the distance, dust arose from the wheels of a chariot, also headed south. The voice buzzed in Philip's ear, "Go over and join this chariot."
"You want me to WHAT? How am I supposed to catch up with a chariot that far ahead of me? Do you have any idea how fast a horse runs?"
"Just do it. Trust."
So he ran. In spite of the heat, in spite of the condition of the rutted path, in spite of everything, he ran. A trail shot off to his right. His ear buzzed, "This is the way. Run in it." Veering off the path, the trail dipped into a long-dried river bed, and rose again, depositing Philip just yards behind the chariot.
Philip could see the occupant, seated, reading from a scroll. As he approached, he heard the words, "Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth."
"Hey," called Philip, "I said HEY. Slow up a bit, would ya? Do you have any idea what you're reading?"
The large, dark skinned man in the chariot signaled to his driver to stop. Philip, panting, hands on knees, catching his breath, twisted his head up, looking at the man, obviously Ethiopian. The man scanned Philip for a moment, taking in the dust covered tunic, the dirt streaked face, and the feet, the beautiful feet of this man who seemed to appear out of nowhere, running and actually catching his horse drawn chariot. "How can I understand if no one explains it?" was his reply, "Come, join me on the journey. We will talk."
And so it was that Philip led the Ethiopian to Jesus and the salvation He provides. What came after that is a tale for another day, but suffice it to say, the continent of Africa would never be the same again. The director of accounting for the great Queen Candace of Ethiopia saw to that.
Scripture references are either personal paraphrase, ESV or NIV. Genesis 12:1 ; Isaiah 30:21, 53:7; Acts 8:26, 29, 30, 31
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Think about how different Africa would be now with about the obedience to God from these men of faith.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading!