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Acts 12:25- Acts 13:3  Here’s a link if your Bible isn’t close-by. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2012%3A25-13%3A3&version=NLT

This is a really short passage.  Not a lot of narrative.  But it’s in scripture for a reason so let’s see what we can find. 

Five men are named as prophets and teachers in Antioch.  Antioch was becoming a well-established centre for the growth of Christianity and it was probably the first major Gentile church centre.  

These men weren’t the only warm bodies in a fledgling congregation.  They had proved themselves, or perhaps more accurately God had proven them, as faithful followers of Jesus and wise teachers of his gospel.  They were gathered, probably with other believers worshipping and fasting.  

Worshipping and fasting…two christian practices that really put our focus on God.  So they were in a posture of listening to and for God’s voice.  And he speaks!  

The Holy Spirit instructs them to set apart Barnabus and Saul for a specific job.  And the gathered believers do exactly that. 

Here is what has been catching my attention as I read this passage.  There were five well qualified men.  There was a really important job to do. (Ok, there were many really important jobs to do, but specifically this passage is talking about a missionary journey to some areas that had never heard of Jesus.)  I imagine if it was my job to select the people to send, I might have made a list of pros and cons.  I might have considered their family situations, relative education, their health.  My point is that I might have really worked hard to decide what was the wisest and best decision.  And there is nothing wrong with thoughtfully and carefully making decisions. But ultimately, you don’t send someone off on a missionary journey into unknown territories unless the Holy Spirit tells you to.  And when the Spirit tells you, you stop and pray one more time as you send them off. 

I guess what I see here is that, just because someone has great qualifications doesn’t mean God is sending them.  I’m betting Simeon, Lucius and Manaen had their hands full while Barnabas and Saul were off on their journey.  The Holy Spirit had work for all five of those men.  But he wanted them in different places.  God has a plan for his work.  I don’t care how obvious the next step may look to us, we always need to stop and ask God’s direction. 

The work that Barnabus and Saul undertook lit the ancient world on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit. Antioch served as home base.  God chose Antioch and the leaders there to be the support structure on which Barnabus and Saul relied.  God had it all figured out.  They just needed to listen in order to learn his plan. 

Oh my goodness, do I need to be reminded of this today.  I’m trying to be all wise and intelligent about my next steps right now.  So many plates are spinning and a lot look like they are about to come smashing to the ground.  I need wisdom to know which to spin and which to let fall.  I may actually need to spend a day in worship and fasting as I begin this week.