Don't you love stories with good endings? In Acts 13:1-12 Barnabas and Saul begin an amazing story as they set out to "proclaim the word of God". They get to Salamis and run into this Jewish sorcerer named Bar-Jesus (son of Jesus), who is known for giving wise counsel to the governor. When Governor Paulus calls for Barnabas and Saul so he can hear this word of God for himself, the deceitful Bar-Jesus interferes in order to keep the Governor from believing.
Suddenly Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks the false prophet in the eye and says,"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun." Immediately a darkness falls on the sorcerer so that he begins begging people to lead him around.
Suddenly Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks the false prophet in the eye and says,"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun." Immediately a darkness falls on the sorcerer so that he begins begging people to lead him around.
Whew! This sudden turn of events shocks the Governor. And he becomes a believer in the truth of Jesus as shared by Paul. Yeah - God wins!
And actually that punishment to crafty Bar-Jesus is similar to what the devil is doing to all who don't believe: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (II Corinthians 4:4) This spiritual blindness is the true tragedy.
Lord, give us Your Holy Spirit's power and wisdom to defeat the devil's work in blinding our loved ones. We love seeing You win!
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