Scripture Notes: Prevented (Acts 16)

During his second missionary journey, Paul runs into some surprising opposition—from the Holy Spirit! He is traveling in Asia Minor and would like to spread out his evangelization in that area, but the Holy Spirit prevents him from doing so. Paul is simply not allowed to go where he thinks he would like to go. We do not know how the Holy Spirit acts in this matter. Perhaps it is through a series of mishaps or a strong sense that something is not right. Perhaps it involves more direct communication. The Bible does not say, but we know that the Holy Spirit deliberately prevents Paul from traveling where he wants. 

Why? God has another plan for this second missionary journey. One night, Paul receives a vision of a man from Macedonia (the guardian angel of that region perhaps?) pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now Paul knows why he was prevented from traveling in Asia. God intends for him to spread the Gospel in Europe instead. And he does. He sets out at once and begins a new stage of his journey, allowing God to direct him and obeying even when he does not understand. 

We have all experienced this in various ways when we do not get something we really want or feel blocked in our plans and goals. But just like God had something better in mind for Paul, something that  promoted His perfect plan, God has something better in mind for us, too, something that promotes His perfect plan for our lives, even when we cannot see it and do not understand. God has His reasons, and that is where our trust needs to become stronger. He can see so much further than we can. He knows the whole picture. We only know a little bit. So when we are prevented, God is acting for our good. We must imitate Paul and trust, accept, and obey.