Acts 23:16-21: a reflection

16But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. 17Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.” 18So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.” 19The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. 21Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”

A plot is formed to ambush and kill Paul; more than forty men have bound themselves by oath to do it. But the plot is overheard by an unlikely person: Paul's young nephew, his sister's son. The young man goes to the barracks, tells Paul, and is brought to the commander to warn him; and so the ambush is foiled. Through this small, unlikely means, a young relative who happened to hear, God protected his servant from a deadly plot.

Notice how God's protection came: through a small, unlikely means. Paul did not escape the plot by a dramatic miracle, but through the ordinary providence of a young nephew who overheard and warned him. God used this small, unlikely instrument, a boy who happened to hear, to protect his servant. And Paul, for his part, did not presume on a miracle, but wisely used the means at hand, sending the young man to warn the commander. God's protection and Paul's prudence worked together.

That is worth remembering about how God works: often through small, unlikely means, and through the ordinary providence we might overlook. We can expect God's help to come only through dramatic means, and miss the ordinary providences through which he often works, the unlikely person, the overheard word, the small circumstance that turns out to be his protection. God protected Paul through a young nephew who happened to hear. Trust that God can protect and provide through small, unlikely means, the ordinary providences you might overlook; do not expect his help only in the dramatic. And, like Paul, use wisely the means God provides, rather than presuming on a miracle. God's providence often works through the small and unlikely; be attentive to it, grateful for it, and wise to use the means he provides, as Paul used the warning his young nephew brought.

Lord, a plot was formed to kill Paul, but it was overheard by an unlikely person, his young nephew, who warned him, and so the ambush was foiled; through this small, unlikely means you protected your servant. Help me remember how you work: often through small, unlikely means, and through the ordinary providence I might overlook. I can expect your help to come only through dramatic means, and miss the ordinary providences through which you often work, the unlikely person, the overheard word, the small circumstance that turns out to be your protection. You protected Paul through a young nephew who happened to hear. Help me trust that you can protect and provide through small, unlikely means, the ordinary providences I might overlook; keep me from expecting your help only in the dramatic. And, like Paul, help me use wisely the means you provide, rather than presuming on a miracle. Your providence often works through the small and unlikely; make me attentive to it, grateful for it, and wise to use the means you provide, Lord, as Paul used the warning his young nephew brought. Thank you for your providence in small things.