An impossible rescue

Peter was one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem in the first century. After James was killed by Herod, Peter was arrested and the church was rocked. The persecution of earlier times had returned. Their response was one of prayer.

I have been guilty of accusing those early believers of praying without belief, for when Peter miraculously showed up at the door where they gathered to pray, they didn’t believe it was him. I mocked what I saw as watery prayer.

But I have a new viewpoint.

The Roman military was incredibly well trained and prepared. Peter was chained to two soldiers behind locked doors with another 14 or 16 soldiers outside. How was he going to get out? Today, if I were praying for someone who was in prison’s maximum security, what would I pray for?

I’d pray for comfort, strength, persistence, mercy, even a strong witness. But it wouldn’t occur to me to pray for an unexplainable escape.

I suspect that’s how these believers were praying, as well. They were shocked to see Peter in the flesh at the door because they hadn’t thought of such an incredible rescue.

What can we learn about God’s character from this? He heard their prayers and he answered what they did not ask. We often see God as a withholding, penny-pinching, grumpy old grandpa. We see in this account from Acts 12 that he rains out his love. He is not a withholder but an enabler.

Here’s the balance: he’s not a genie in a bottle, either, just waiting to grant my every wish.

He loves us too much for that.

His response is for good, in whatever form that takes. Joseph declared to his brothers “God meant it for good.” Joseph suffered before he saw the results of God’s plan. Peter had to sit in prison in chains before he saw God’s plan.

If you’ll read Acts 12, you’ll see that Peter was sleeping so soundly the night before his trial that the angel had trouble awakening him. He thought he was dreaming, as he was led past the soldiers. Peter trusted God’s goodness. He didn’t expect such a rescue either but he was resting in God’s goodness.

As I pray, anything is possible God. He doesn’t pinch pennies but pours gold from heaven.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:13)