God's Sabbath

G OD ’ S W AY IN M ISSIONARY W ORK

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Philip’s Missionary Experience

In the Scriptures we find a clear example of the Lord’s way provided in the experience of Philip and the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. At the time it happened, Philip was engaged in a very productive ministry in Samaria (see Acts 8:5–8); so much so, that Peter and John were sent from Jerusalem to as sist him (see Acts 8:14). At an industrious time like that, they would not plan to leave such a fruitful place. Instead they would spend all their efforts in establishing the new believers on a firm foundation. But the great Plan Maker had other plans for the main work er of this locality. Quite unexpectedly, Philip was directed to leave this area just when things were progressing well, and jour ney southwards to the route that led to Gaza. “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’” Acts 8:26–29. It is obvious that no thread of human devising was to be found in this plan. Philip had no knowledge of the Ethiopian’s visit to Jerusalem, nor of his need to have the gospel explained to him. But God knew not only the man’s need; He also knew the exact time and place for Philip to be brought into contact with him. He had been working on the heart of this precious soul and had ar ranged things so that Philip could reach him precisely at the op portune moment. It would have been less arduous and time-consuming for Phi lip to have gone to Jerusalem to meet this man, but the Lord waited till the Ethiopian had traveled far south of the city on his homeward journey. So perfectly was the apostle’s departure from Samaria timed, that he met the traveler exactly where God in tended he should. The result of the encounter was that the Ethi opian was thoroughly converted.