Shaking off the snakes

“And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid [them] on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.” Acts 28:3,4

Have you ever been in the position where life brings you a challenge… a test… an unfair situation… and you feel judged by others?

Have you ever been in the position where others (whether in the Body of Christ or not) are looking at you and saying, “God must be dealing with them… They must have done something wrong… God must be angry with them… They are reaping what they sowed!”

I know I have.

It can get confusing.  You go before God truly seeking to understand.  And when you don’t…

You begin to listen to the words of the enemy through the voices of the people trying to burden you with guilt and accuse you.

You feel like Job.  

And you begin to act like him.

All sack cloth and ashes.  “Woe is me.”  “Why is this happening?”  “I DON’T UNDERSTAND LORD!”

Paul had just come out of a shipwreck.  A shipwreck where he had been encouraging others who were in it not to be afraid because God promised none would be lost.  Paul was bringing the gospel everywhere he had planned to go… and places he hadn’t planned.  Paul is finally getting a chance to warm himself by the fire, he is actually doing the work of getting the sticks so others can be warm as well and he gets hit with this…

“there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand”

Gimme a break!  It just doesn’t line up.

But how did Paul handle it.

“And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.”   Acts 28: 5

It is an interesting word that is used here for “felt”.  It is the Greek paschō.  When used elsewhere it is often translated “suffer.” When we think of suffering we think of undergoing something or being in pain or struggle.

But it can also mean “to allow, to accept.” 

Paul shook off the snake, and refused to accept the harm.

He didn’t pull a Job.  And he didn’t pull a Mike (that’s me by the way).  And when he gave the roll call of all of his sufferings… this didn’t even get a foot note! (see 2 Cor 11:23-28)

He didn’t ask God why it happened.

But God used it… because people were watching… waiting to see Paul get his so they could say, “I told you so!”

“Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him,…” (v.6)

Here it is…

Here is why that thing was happening…

Here is how God wants to use the snake bites in your life…

Here is why He might even permit them to bite YOU!!!!....

Because… when people are watching to see how a Christian handles the hardships of life…  when people have got there eye on your suffering… when they are waiting to judge… or waiting to be justified…

And they see you shake it off and chose to accept the warmth of the fire rather than the poison of the snake…

“they changed their minds…” (v.6 continued)

God lets us go through things to glorify Him.

The next time a snake jumps from the fire, and the people stare…

Shake it off.  In Jesus’ name.

SDG