Planting in the Desert

Acts 8:26-29 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 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, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
 
WHEN the Spirit speaks, listen.
   We continue to see God’s very personal interactions with his messengers. The Spirit’s power is evident through new believers, special gifts and miracles. In addition an angel of the Lord has freed the apostles from jail (Acts 5), and now he is a messenger to the evangelist Philip. God is methodically moving the church into the next steps of his salvation sequence.
   Does it seem odd God would command Philip to leave a busy city to go on the Desert Road, the way from Jerusalem to Africa? Philip likely did not concern himself with, “Why, Lord?” Instead, Philip may have anticipated, “What wonders will the Lord now reveal to me?” This is the disciple’s view. Philip soon learned God had an appointment for him with an Ethiopian eunuch.  
   Philip, though,  may have been surprised when he came upon this man reading a scroll in a chariot. Who was he? The Ethiopian was from a region of Africa that was on the southern region of Egypt at the time. Candace was the title of queens of this region. The man was likely not a physical eunuch. “Eunuch” was a term for men who were officials in a royal court. Philip knew he was wealthy because he had a chariot, and he was reading a scroll. The common man had no such luxuries. The Ethiopian apparently was also a Jew by faith. He had been to Jerusalem to worship, and he was reading from Isaiah. God had given the Ethiopian a heart and mind eager to learn more.
   God was working in the desert. How many times in Scripture does God’s salvation begin in a desert? Israel’s journey to the Promised Land, John the Baptist’s ministry and Jesus’ 40 days in the desert are some examples. He does so once more with Philip’s mission.
   Just as Moses, John and Jesus knew what to do in the desert, Philip was sure of his next steps. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” One command from God and one obedient heart takes you to the place God wants to use you. Listen, go and wait. Be eager to respond, even it seems to be as small as one man in a chariot on a desert road.
   God had been preparing the desert soil to produce a fertile harvest. The time to plant had come.