Acts 8:30. “And Philip ran thither to he, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, ‘Understandeth thou what thou what thou readest?’” OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES. In the middle of this success and excitement, Philip was directed by God to another foreigner in the desert. One important encounter with a significant man from a distant country, may have affected an entire nation. Then he was moved on to Caesarea, where later he was Paul's host. Paul's persecution forced Philip out of Jerusalem, and now Philip's work was continued right across the Roman empire by Paul.
Preaching is not limited to crowds of people. There are many opportunities that arise when the most effective way of preaching is the personal explanations of the scriptures, both in exposition and in application. We all need a knowledge of the word of God so we can explain truth when asked a question in a way that is both relevant and understandable. Philip knew the way to apply the truth of Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian so there was no question as to who the Lord Jesus Christ was and what it meant to believe on Him. There was no casual suggestion as to what faith in Christ meant.
“’Come now, and let us reason together’, saith the Lord.” Are words like this hard to understand? What would make the Ethiopian find reading the words of the prophet hard to understand? For the natural man without any background of a God who has a personal interest in men, this could be very hard to grasp. The Creator of the universe having interest in one man, out of all the millions on earth; would perhaps be hard to take in. In our frame of reference, most of us feel quite insignificant when we are in a great crowd of people or even when we think that we are only one in a nation of 300 million or one in a world of 6 billion. But the scriptures assure us – “Thou God seest me.” [Isa.1]. So the Old Testament scriptures teach us of God’s interest in us.
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.” [Isa.6]. The prophet Esaias gave clear insights into what God is like in Himself. The absolute holiness of God makes the sinfulness of man stand out in its dark clarity. He teaches us that “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous nesses are as filthy rags.” [Isa.64]. In reading through the words of this one prophet, the contrast of the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of man, bring us to repentance and to the place God can get our attention.
“He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities…” [Isa.53] give us a clear picture of the principle of substitution. But it goes even farther than the principle, to the Person who is the substitute – the Lord Jesus Christ. The Ethiopian asked, “Of whom speaketh the prophet this?” How could a holy God allow such a Perfect Servant, that we read of from chapters 42-53 be allowed to be such a substitute. God’s grace is unfolded page after page as the Old Testament scriptures bring into full view, the Holy One who pleased the Holy God, and who He gave for unholy men. How can such a needed connection be made between the two? “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I AM God and there is none else.” [Isa.45]. The greatest possible blessing is presented, “Be ye saved,” for the greatest possible number of people, “All the ends of the earth,” on the easiest possible terms, “Look unto Me,” from the greatest possible Person, I AM God.”
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud thy sins: return unto Me for I have redeemed thee.” [Isa.44]. The result of the acts of a Holy God, by His Holy Servant, on behalf of unholy men, is that the redemption price for our sins has been paid in full. Now we are to simply look to Him; return to Him and accept what He has provided for us. The Old Testament scriptures are clear, and the truth of God’s salvation is presented there for us who live today and read those ancient writings. God is still the same.
For this Ethiopian eunuch God used the SCRIPTURES: v.28, 32, 35. “The entrance of Thy word giveth light.” What are the scriptures? They are the inspired words of God written by "holy men of old" who were moved by the Holy Spirit. How do we know they are true? The scriptures have been proven by millions who have believed them, accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Savior who was testified to by the scriptures, and have found the truths taught in the scriptures to actually do what they promised. Some may ask the question, "Why should I believe them?" Many of the prophesies that were written came to be fulfilled hundreds of years after the writing of the scriptures. Particularly those that we written concerning the birth, death and resurrection of Christ. Also, many predictions concerning the nation of Israel have been, and are being, fulfilled. God has made His will and Himself known through the scriptures.
God also used the SPIRIT, v.29, to guide Philip to this man and to bring the answers of peace that he needed. “When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.” There are a number of ways the Holy Spirit of God works on behalf of the seeking sinner. We are warned by the Spirit. We are taught by the Spirit. We are convicted by the Spirit. We are born again by the Spirit. We are led by the Spirit. We are guided by the Spirit. The Lord Jesus promised the Spirit of God would be at work in the world after He went to heaven and that evidence is certainly true.
To reach this man who was searching for God and to reach people today as well, God uses a ready and willing SERVANT: v.26,29,31, 35, 37, 38. We are told to “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.” God's servants are God’s sign posts, God’s messengers, God’s witnesses, God’s tools, God’s chosen vessels. We learn from this story that there are those who God knows are seeking for Him, and it is up to us to be where we should be and ready for His use when He directs us
“How clear it is to me today, O God of saving grace: that people in time past, the same as today, had to know about the Redeemer. How gracious it is of Thee to provide such clear written words for those who are seeking the Lord to be able to find Thee. For those who are searching this day for peace and salvation, I pray Thou will lead someone to them. If there is someone that I should reach today, please lead me to that soul today. Amen.”