They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region." Acts 13:50
"I think this is an interesting sequence of events: first the Jews incite the "God-fearing women of high standing"; then the "leading men"; finally persecution becomes widespread enough that Paul and Barnabas are expelled from the region.
As in our passage today, original sin began in the Garden of Eden with the serpents' temptation of the woman, Genesis 3:8, "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.
She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it."
Whenever we men recount this story (dating back to Adam), sin has always been the woman's fault, verse 12, "The man said, 'The woman you put here with me -- she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
The problem is we men have a tendency to be present but not fully checked in to what's happening, so when our women are incited to action, we respond with a superficial, "Okay honey, if that's the way you see it then I'm with you!"
At least until there's a problem.
I don't want to over generalize, but a woman's nature is to respond first with emotion and feeling then with logic.
For example when buying a car, a woman might first be concerned with the safety of her children before she considers how fast it goes, the average miles per gallon, or what kind of a statement about 'me' this car will make.
For a man the order will usually be reversed.
Men typically respond with logic and sensory perception first — emotions then follow. God made us this way intentionally — it's the balance in our differences that makes us good together.
I have thanked God often for my wife whose sensitive heart has led to many opportunities for us to serve the Lord, which quite frankly I would have missed had I been alone.
On the other hand, there have been times when she has been led down the wrong path despite her good intentions.
Over the years we have learned to balance each other so that Jesus might be consistently expressed through our actions, Philippians 2:13, "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."
In our passage today, well respected Godly women were turned against Paul and Barnabas and their men followed.
I wonder — had their men not just been present, but instead fully checked in to what was happening (in other words paying attention) — would the same result have occurred?
Or did they simply approve their wives' decision?
Questions to Ponder:
One of the greatest problems with our society today is the lack of involvement by godly men.
It seems often times men tend to come along in silent support rather than in full participation from the beginning.
I wonder how different things might have been had Adam said to Eve in the Garden of Eden, 'Honey, those are very good reasons ("good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom"), but didn't God tell us to not eat it?'
Instead Adam ate and said nothing.
He was present but not fully checked in.
How checked in are you? Is your wife leading most of your family's decisions?
Do you find yourself usually affirming the decisions your wife has already made?
What needs to change?
Thoughts for Today from Daily Devotions of Pocket Testament League www.ptl.org
"Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow." Isaiah. 1:17
Today’s 22nd truth: If you are “born again”, you are an heir of eternal life. 1 John 5:11,12
Tomorrow's post: JESUS: THE RIGHT ANSWER
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