Dependent On Others

Acts 9:8-9 “And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”

Saul met Jesus and had a life changing experience. However he was not ready to go change the world. When he opened his eyes he could not see. He was blind and now was helpless.
Nothing like losing one of your most valuable senses -- your eyesight -- to make you dependent on others, to get your attention on what is important. Have you ever walked out of a dark theater into bright sun light? If you have then you know for a moment you cannot see and have to wait till your eyes adjust to the brighter light. The light that Saul encountered was Jesus, and it was so bright it temporarily burned out his sight. I think not only did Saul have to wait for his eyes to adjust he had to learn how to be dependent on others. This man who was leading men to Damascus to put an end to the Jesus movement now had to be led by others.
What a humbling experience this must have been for Saul. How must he have felt to now having to be led by the hand? We don’t know how far he had to walk but we do know not only did he have to get to Damascus he then had to find a specific house. He had to be led step by step and told where everything was so he would not stumble and fall. What a painful humbling journey that must have been.
Saul had been motivated by the Lord, and he did the appropriate thing -- he fasted for three days. Why? I think Saul realized he just had a life changing experience and needed to go to God -- setting aside the demands of the flesh -- in order to gain a better understanding of the significance of the message and how it changed his purpose.
When was the last time we sought the Lord by fasting for any length of time much less for three days? When we think of fasting visions of all kinds of things rush through our minds. The demand of the flesh becomes more important than seeking the Lord. Spirituality is not as important as a big mac or whopper. God’s direction has to take a back seat to the empty feeling in our stomach. I believe the Lord speaks to us in events -- all we have to do is seek Him. Jesus said seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you.
As Saul was being led by the hand he had time to think. His eyes were dark and the words of Jesus were ringing in his ears. He had time to reflect and he knew he had to have a one on one with the Lord. Could we do what Saul did fast and pray for three days? What would you have done had you been in Saul’s shoes?