Acts 21:10 And" .... "there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
This passage of scripture marks the beginning of the end for Paul's ministry, for although he was permitted to live in incarceration for a few more years, yet it must be that The Holy Ghost saw fit to warn him of oncoming danger, so that if he so chose, he could avoid it. Him doing so would not have represented a lack of faith on his part, because the warning came directly from the Holy Spirit through the prophet, and therefore, if he then decided to take the necessary precautions to avoid the danger, it's very possible that his life and ministry could have continued for very much longer than it did. However, the fact is that even through his own choice, God was still able to work through him to bring the message of salvation before kings, and he was enabled and directed to write many epistles whilst in prison, awaiting his fate.
After Paul decided that he would go up to Jerusalem, despite the cautions of The Holy Ghost, he found out on arrival that the prophecy uttered by the prophet Agabus was coming true, and he was very badly beaten and arrested, and were it not for the grace of God in sustaining him through the terrible ordeals that were soon to follow, Paul would have been torn in pieces by the maddened mob, and this incident would have forever closed his life history on this earth. Let's read:
Acts 21:27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. 31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
There are two very important questions to be answered because of this episode, and the answers to these questions will have a direct impact on what will become of us in the very near future, when the determined hostilities against true godliness will deepen as the shadows of night. The first question is, what was God's purpose in warning Paul beforehand of the possible onslaught by the Jews? And the second question is whether the fate that Paul suffered could, and should have been avoided? The answers to these very important questions bring us back to the issue of freedom of choice, which God has given to each person, and the laws of cause and effect that are allowed to run their natural course.
In our own personal experiences we are often faced with decisions that can either lengthen or shorten our days on this planet, and thus it is left up to us to choose wisely, according to the knowledge and understanding God has seen fit to bestow. In giving us warning against eating certain foods, it is the will of God that the cautions thus given would be heeded, yet we are left free to choose, to act upon those warnings or to disregard them altogether. Either choice will be then engaged by the laws of cause and effect, and if we deliberately decide to ignore the counsels God has seen fit to offer, then our expectations should be in line with our choices, and when trouble comes our way, we cannot reasonably expect any deliverance from God.
Take for instance the eating of any type of animal fat, a practice that has been expressly forbidden by God, because of the cancer causing effects it would produce, together with the accompanying obesity, clogged arteries, and potential for heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest, which often occur as a direct result. The warnings are indeed given in the clearest language possible, yet we are left to take heed or to disregard the counsels thus given, with the understanding that God is not to be expected to intervene in any way if we deliberately choose to ignore His instructions. Even though in mercy He sometimes intervenes, yet our expectations should be reasonably managed, in harmony with our deliberate choices. Let's read:
Leviticus 7:23 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. 24 And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
What is worthy of note is that the angel of The Lord which encampeth round about them that fear Him, was there present when Paul was being badly beaten, but he was restrained from interfering with the sad outcome in any decisive manner, because of Paul's own choice. Many of the foods and practices forbidden in the Bible come with dire consequences that will adversely affect our quality of life and length of days, yet it is left up to us to choose, and it is the will of God that His cautions and warnings may be heeded so that we do not deliberately place ourselves in harm's way, through a multitude of diseases and afflictions, which could have otherwise been avoided.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to choose wisely, and we are counseled by it, to live soberly in this present age, and thereby avoid the many snares that are laid for the feet of the unwary or indifferent. Let's read:
Ecclesiastes 7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!