Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, Saul and Barnabas came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God’s message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos. they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message. But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul – also called Paul – filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer and said, “You son of the Devil, full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord? Now, look! The Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Suddenly a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. Acts 13:4-12
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium, or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. Deuteronomy 18:10-12
My words…
Praise
Oh, Lord, at the same moment when Your son, Paul, battled Elymas, the son of the Devil, were Your holy armies at war with Satan’s in the unseen realm? Was the enemy held back from claiming any more ground when Paul rebuked the sorcerer and You struck him blind? Did Satan shake his fist at Your archangel who rejoiced over Sergius Paulus’ astonishment of You? Does Satan tremble with rage that Your children continue to read this story and praise You? I hope so!
Prayer for me
Lord, let me never forget the reason You warn me against specific evil practices: You know the damage that will result, and You love me too much to remain silent and let me stray into it.
Forgive me
Elymas was warned of the evil of sorcery, yet he chose that vocation anyway. Forgive me when I choose to neglect Your warnings and pervert Your straight paths. You know I do not practice sorcery, but You know the sins I do practice. Please forgive me.
Prayer for others
Since Elymas was born a Jew, I assume he was taught the Law and the Prophets from a young age. He attended synagogue school and memorized Your holy words. He knew what You had to say about sorcery. But something happened, and he decided to trade in a life of adoration and reverence for You for a life of trickery, deceit, and self-exultation. His parents must have been ashamed of him. His Jewish acquaintances may have shunned him. He tied a blindfold over his spiritual eyes and strode through life, living every moment for his own gain. My world is full of Elymases – those who embraced Your love at one time then ground it into the earth beneath their shoes. They are energized by lies and use that energy to twist the paths walked on by those searching for You. The Devil tightens their blindfolds, and they are numb to the pain. Just as You loved Elymas and grieved his choices, so do You love all who have turned their eyes from You and carve out a different path. They cannot escape Your love. You remain alongside them, arms waiting to embrace. I pray that the Devil loses his children back to You – that You reclaim them from their kidnapper.
Thank You
You blinded Elymas so that he would see what You wanted him to see. Thank You for your steadfastness – You never stop forgiving, never stop instructing, never stop loving.
More praise
I praise You for Your plan to save Your creation from all evil and gather us to Yourself in a place You are preparing now. My hope is that I will see Elymas there.
