Question description

Something just crossed my mind about the fact the Saul who used to persecute Christians before his conversions and the encounter with our Lord. But there is something really interesting when I ask why did God make him go blinded? It is a contradiction because when he could see clearly, he was blided spiritually. Yet, when he was blinded physically, he saw the true light spiritually (remind me of Isaiah 43:8) but that light lead him to go blind ?. I would like to ask what do you think about this fascinating irony of Paul's life story? Is there any other insight of why this event occur in his life?

Thank you, God bless.

Answer description

I think your summary of Paul's situation is good. But let's try to add some details that will allow us to see the entire picture better. Saul was an arrogant young man (Gal 1:14) and his pursuits were bringing about evil for God's people. Saul's work in persecuting Christians was not honoring God as he may have thought.

Later in his life, Paul describes himself as "the chief of sinners" (I Tim 1:15) when talking about his former life. But in that "old life," we can see how God was working and preparing for Saul to become Paul, the Apostle. Young Saul had a great gift for learning Scripture and we can see that he also had a fearless nature that made him comfortable taking on tasks (persecuting Christians) that others were not willing to do. In later life God was able to use these gifts, teaching Scripture and fearlessly witnessing, to make him into a powerful force for good.

So when Saul began his journey to Damascus to round up Christians to take back to Jerusalem, he was seeing his way through prideful eyes. But it was at that time God chose to reveal Himself to the persecutor and turn him into the Apostle. When Saul saw the Risen Christ his whole life changed. And how did that happen, by God then taking away his sight? Over the next three days, the Holy Spirit spoke great truths into Paul's heart and mind. It transformed him completely. But this example is also a lesson for us to learn.

It is never when we are comfortable and going through easy times in our lives that God teaches us hard lessons that cause us to grow in our faith. It is always the times when we are helpless, unknowing, or lost that God uses to draw us close and see things as we never have before. This is exactly what Paul experienced and God humbled him and pointed him in the direction where his great gifts could be used for eternal glory.

The other thing that God did in that moment before blindness was allow Saul to see and hear the Risen Christ (Acts 9:27) which then qualified him to become the Apostle to the Gentiles. And the results of that calling are still having a great impact to this very day. The verse that comes to my mind relating to your thoughts about sight is (II Cor 5:7) where Paul directs us to walk by faith and not by sight. When Paul relied on seeing through his own eyes he was a force for evil. But when his sight was taken away and the Holy Spirit taught him about walking by faith, he became a different man. One He could use for His glory.

So when Paul instructs us to walk by faith and not by sight, just perhaps he is referring to his sightless experience on the road to Damascus.

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