Introduction: When God Intervenes
Throughout the annals of sacred history, the sovereign hand of God has often reached down into the affairs of men, interrupting their mundane existence with encounters of divine power and purpose. These moments are not mere coincidences or fleeting inspirations; they are pivotal intersections where the eternal breaks into the temporal, forever altering the trajectory of individuals and, through them, the course of nations. Such divine encounters are marked by God's initiative, His revelation of Himself, and a profound, often immediate, call to a new way of being or a new mission. We shall examine three such profound encounters from the King James Version of the Bible, each of which irrevocably changed the lives of those involved and bore lasting fruit for the Kingdom of God.
Moses and the Burning Bush: From Shepherd to Deliverer
The first encounter transports us to the rugged wilderness of Midian, where Moses, a fugitive from Egypt, tended the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro. Forty years had passed since he fled Pharaoh's wrath, and he was likely resigned to a quiet life as a shepherd. Yet, God, who remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had a far grander plan for His servant. It was here, at the backside of the desert, near the mountain of Horeb, that God chose to reveal Himself in a spectacle both miraculous and deeply significant.
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
This was no ordinary fire. When Moses turned aside to investigate, the voice of the LORD called unto him out of the midst of the bush, saying, "Moses, Moses." The conversation that ensued was nothing short of life-altering. God declared His identity as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and revealed His awareness of Israel's affliction in Egypt. He then issued a direct command:
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Moses, initially hesitant and filled with excuses, questioned his own capability and God's identity. It was here that God revealed His eternal, self-existent nature, declaring, "I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exodus 3:14). This encounter fundamentally changed Moses. From a hesitant shepherd, he was transformed into God's chosen deliverer, empowered by the Almighty's presence and promise. His life, previously defined by exile and routine, became a testament to divine intervention, leading to the liberation of a nation and the establishment of the Mosaic covenant. The burning bush was not just a sight; it was a divine commission that set the stage for one of the greatest redemptive narratives in human history.
Saul on the Road to Damascus: From Persecutor to Apostle
Our second encounter brings us to a stark contrast in setting and character. Saul of Tarsus was not a humble shepherd but a zealous Pharisee, vehemently opposed to the nascent Christian movement. He saw the followers of Christ as heretics who defiled the sacred traditions of Judaism, and he made it his mission to eradicate them. Armed with letters from the high priest, Saul journeyed to Damascus, breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1).
However, God had a different plan for this persecutor. As Saul neared Damascus, a blinding light from heaven suddenly shone around him. This was no ordinary light; it was the unadulterated glory of the resurrected Christ, breaking through the darkness of Saul's understanding and purpose.
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Stunned and prostrate, Saul asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" The response was profoundly transformative: "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 9:5). This single moment dismantled Saul's entire worldview and purpose. He was struck blind physically, a symbol of his spiritual blindness. Led by the hand into Damascus, he spent three days without sight, food, or drink, a period of intense reflection and reorientation.
God then sent Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, to him, revealing that Saul was a "chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). Upon Ananias's touch, Saul's sight was restored, and he was filled with the Holy Ghost. The transformation was immediate and absolute. The fierce persecutor became the fervent preacher. The man who sought to destroy the church now built it, ultimately becoming the Apostle Paul, author of much of the New Testament, and the primary missionary to the Gentiles. This divine encounter on the Damascus road did not merely change Saul's direction; it redefined his identity, his mission, and ultimately, the spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.
Peter's Rooftop Vision: Opening the Gospel to the Gentiles
Our final encounter shifts our focus to Simon Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples and a pillar of the early church. Despite the Great Commission to preach the Gospel to "every creature" (Mark 16:15), the early Jewish Christians, including Peter, still adhered strictly to the Mosaic law, particularly concerning dietary laws and association with Gentiles, whom they considered unclean. God, however, intended for the Gospel to transcend all cultural and ethnic barriers, and He chose to reveal this universal truth to Peter through a profound vision.
While praying on a rooftop in Joppa, Peter fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened, and a great sheet descending upon the earth, "wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air" (Acts 10:12). A voice commanded him, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat" (Acts 10:13). Peter, a devout Jew, recoiled, declaring that he had never eaten anything common or unclean. But the voice spoke a third time, emphatically stating:
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
This vision, repeated three times, was not primarily about food; it was about people. At that very moment, messengers from Cornelius, a Roman centurion and a devout Gentile, arrived at Peter's gate, having been divinely directed to seek him. The Holy Spirit instructed Peter to go with them, doubting nothing.
Peter's encounter with Cornelius's household marked a monumental shift. He declared, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35). As Peter preached Christ to them, the Holy Ghost fell on all who heard the word, just as it had on the Jewish believers at Pentecost. This encounter fundamentally changed Peter's understanding of God's redemptive plan, breaking down centuries of religious and cultural barriers. It paved the way for the inclusion of Gentiles into the church, demonstrating that salvation through Christ was truly for all humanity, not just for the Jews. Peter's vision was a divine recalibration, ensuring the church understood its universal mission.
Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Divine Encounters
The lives of Moses, Saul, and Peter stand as powerful testaments to the transformative power of divine encounters. In each instance, God took the initiative, breaking into their lives with a direct, undeniable revelation of His presence and purpose. These encounters were not merely spiritual experiences; they were divine commissions that redirected lives, overturned established paradigms, and propelled individuals into pivotal roles within God's unfolding plan.
While the circumstances of these encounters were extraordinary, the underlying principles remain timeless. God still calls, God still reveals, and God still transforms. These narratives remind us that:
- God is Sovereign: He chooses whom He will, and He intervenes in human history to accomplish His purposes.
- God Reveals Himself: He makes His will known, often in unexpected ways, requiring a response of faith and obedience.
- Divine Encounters Bring Transformation: They lead to a radical change in identity, perspective, and mission, moving individuals from their comfort zones to God's intended path.
- Obedience is Key: The fruit of these encounters depended on the willingness of Moses, Saul, and Peter to obey God's clear, though challenging, instructions.
Just as these three men were forever changed by their face-to-face encounters with the divine, so too does God desire to encounter us. Whether through His written Word, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, or the circumstances of life, God continues to call His people to a deeper relationship and a greater purpose. May we, like Moses, Saul, and Peter, be ready to respond when God intervenes, allowing His divine encounter to change everything within us and through us for His glory.