It is hard to kick against the goad…(3)

Saul officially got an approval to arrest and persecute the disciples of Christ.As far as he was concerned,he was doing the will of God.He was on the journey to effect their arrest when a voice spoke to him:

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

What does that translate to?

The Apostles and their messages represent the goads.

The Christ who sent them is the shepherd holding the goad.

Saul represents the ‘errant ox’ that is resistant to the instructions of the goad.

Normally,when a shepherd is directing the animals to plough,he doesn’t use the sharp end of the goad on them.The reason is obvious.

But when the animals want to go against the shepherd,they kick back on the goad fitted with the very sharp metal…Ouch…Injury!!!

It becomes not only hard to kick against the goad,it becomes very painful to the animals.

Ab initio,the animals think it is the goad that is their problem.They kick against it and in the process get themselves injured.

Similarly,Saul thought the Apostles were his enemies.Little did he know that he was going against Christ:‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me’.

When the message of Christ comes to you…When instructions to change direction gets into your heart…Stop attacking the messenger and the message.They are not your enemies.

They are goads in the hands of a Shepherd.If you attack them,you may get yourself injured because:

It is not only hard but also painful for you to kick against the goad.