Do You Understand What You Are Reading?

Psalm 131, 132, [133] • Psalm 134, 135
Job 1:1-22 • Acts 8:26-40 • John 6:16-27

Sometimes things mean a lot more to me if I can personalize them. So when I read about Philip’s going to Gaza: “an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza,” I thought about what I had seen of dusty roads in the holy land and wondered what road that was. 

I had been on that same road but was traveling in the opposite direction, from Jerusalem north to the Sea of Galilee. This was after my husband died, and I was missing him. One early morning by the Sea of Galilee, I saw someone who looked like him, from the back. 

But the passage reads “Rise and go toward the south” where you will find a eunuch, a minister. So Philip rose and went along that desert road and encountered the eunuch returning from Jerusalem where he had been worshiping. The eunuch was in a chariot and the Spirit said to Philip, “go and join him.” In fact, the minister was reading Isaiah. Philip said to the eunuch, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 

The eunuch responded, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (I rather like this eunuch). So Philip began to teach. “As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he, meaning Jesus, opens not his mouth…Justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.” 

“About whom does the prophet say this?” the eunuch asked. So Philip told him about Jesus. 

In a while, they came to water. “See, here is water!’ the eunuch said, “What is to prevent my being baptized?” Then Philip baptized him. After that, Philip was somehow “caught up” and “the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”

I like reading about amazing people and knowing I am connected to them even if only by a dusty road. 

Written by Rebecca Newth

Rebecca Newth just finished helping her friend, Oda Mulloy, finish a great book.