Stop Kicking & Surrender

“It is hard for you to kick against the pricks” was a Greek proverb, but it was also familiar to the Jews and anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would prick the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the prick, and this would result in the prick being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered. Thus, Jesus’ words to Saul on the road to Damascus: “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.”

We, too, find it hard to kick against the prick. Solomon wrote, “Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path” (Proverbs 15:10). When we choose to disobey God, we become like the rebellious ox—driving the prick deeper and deeper. “When we fight against being obedient to the word of God and do it our own way we are resisting him and only punishing ourselves. Driving that prick deeper into our flesh.

Jesus stopped Paul in his tracks and let him know his rebellion against God was a losing battle. I’m here to tell you so is ours as senseless as an ox kicking “against the goads.” Paul had passion and sincerity in his fight against Christianity, but he was not heading in the direction God wanted him to go. There is a way that seem right unto a man but the end there of is destruction. Jesus was going to goad (“direct” or “steer”) Paul in the right direction.

He is also going to goad and steer each of us.

Remember Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Follow the commandments of Christ.

I mean after all he is the way!