Kicking against the goads

“And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Acts 26:14 ESV

Saul who later became the Apostle Paul had been persecuting followers of Jesus having many put to death and imprisoned. As he says himself, that he did things that were contrary to the name of Jesus. Acts 26:9

He then has this amazing encounter with the Lord Himself as he was travelling to Damascus. It was here that Jesus spoke to Saul asking why He was persecuting Him and exclaiming that it was hard for him to ‘kick against the goads’.

A goad is a long, sharp stick used to prod an ox to move in a desired direction. The phrase metaphorically means it is foolish and painful to resist divine guidance or God's will, as the resistance only causes more suffering, similar to how an ox that kicks against the sharp goad will only hurt itself.  

For many of us no matter what season of life we are in, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we too can resist the will of God. We can also kick against the goad that God uses to direct our lives.

Because of pain and suffering we can become trapped in a vicious cycle and a web of hurt, depression and lack of vision. In other words just like Saul we continue doing the same thing week in week out without realising that God wants to break in and do something new in and through us.

Immediately after Jesus warns him about kicking against the goads, Saul asks the Lord what he wants him to do. The Lord then gives him clear instruction.

Could it be that for many of us we need a new, clear revelation of Christ and His plan and purpose for our life. If we’ve suffered in any way, it can be easy for us to think that God can no longer use us. We might think He can only use the people who have it ‘all together’. Those who have degrees, those who have their children in order. Those who have marriages that are made in heaven. Those who have wealth and are at the top of the business ladder.

No, Saul didn’t suffer, on the contrary he made others suffer. But he was outside the will of God because he was resisting the Lord and doing the exact opposite to what God wanted of him.

As we become enveloped in our own lives, the hurts, the pain, the struggle, the day to day hardships we too can resist what God maybe saying to us.

It has been said to me that God hasn’t ‘put me on the shelf’. Yet sadly that is exactly what it has felt like for much of the seasoning of deep suffering in my life. The Church must help people to move forward in their God given gifting and roles. It’s so important to remember that God can and will use our pain, He will use the things that we go through to further His Kingdom on earth.

So individually as people and collectively as the Church we can resist God’s will. We can kick against His direction and do things our own way.

Let’s be open to what God is saying and wanting to do. Maybe we need to get alongside someone who is struggling and who for whatever reason may be resisting God’s work in their lives. Together we can walk in the will and purpose of God.

Prayer: Lord, may we be a people that are open to Your calling on our lives. Forgive us when we resist Your good and perfect plan. When we suffer may we look to You to see how You will use our situation for you Kingdom purposes. Amen