Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna | Saturday, April 28, 2018 | Topic: Conscience 5
Scripture: And when the barbarians saw the venomous snake hang on Paul’s hand, they said among themselves, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” Acts 28:4
Note: The barbarians were totally ignorant of the written law of God, yet the ethos of justice, equity and fairness seemed to be etched on their hearts. Whatever was considered acceptable, right and just was decided based on what their consciences convinced them was the right thing to do. They didn’t have to read any book on ethics, hospitality and human rights. They knew that no man had a right to unlawfully take another man’s life. They called it murder.
The barbarians understood that hidden secrets and evils committed had a natural way of coming back to haunt and pay back the perpetrators. They didn’t know Paul from Adam just like the rest of the people in the wrecked ship. When the venomous snake came out from the bundle of sticks being used to fuel the fire and attacked Paul, it couldn’t have been a mere coincidence to them. They were privy to the large number of people that came out from the wrecked ship; about 276 people on board.
Yet, of all the hundreds of people, it was only Paul that got attacked by the vicious and venomous viper. “That must be some justice there. This man must be a murderer who was only fortunate to escape the justice of the sea.” The barbarians said to themselves, as they waited anxiously to witness the demise of Paul from the poisonous effect of the snake, concluding that he must have been a murderer, getting just reward for his past atrocities.
During the nervous wait when Paul was expected to drop dead soon, his miraculous turnaround in surviving the snake venom brought a change of mind in the concept and philosophical thinking of the people concerning evil and payback. They got to understand that people who are under the covering of God’s power and protection are insulated from incidental evils that may attack them. Outside of the Jews who were covenanted to God through the Abrahamic covenant of circumcision and the believers in Christ Jesus, all men are responsible for their actions before God and answerable to Him. This is because God has now revealed Himself to all men in the latter days through His Son Jesus Christ.
Food for thought: The blood of Jesus has sufficient power to protect and insulate believers against any intended harm from the enemy.
Declaration: Believers shall pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Mark 16:18
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
