Saint Paul used his Roman citizenship to change the dynamic of his encounter with the Roman military. Faced with death threats from a violent local faction, he allowed himself to be imprisoned, but gets the protection of the empire for himself to continue God’s work.
What if we used our citizenship in the world’s only superpower to give cover for God’s work in the world?
There are many instances of God’s people working in companionship: Jesus sent the seventy out in pairs (Luke 10:1). God gives Moses his brother Aaron to help his mission. They include:
David and Jonathan: When King Saul kicks David out of his presence, Saul’s son Jonathan intercedes and accompanies David back to court (1 Samuel 19).
David and Abiathar: David takes shelter in the city of Nob and tricks the priest Ahimelech into aiding him. Ahimelech and his fellow priests are ratted out by Saul’s chief goon Doeg the Edomite (Doeg is an early example of a paramilitary!). Saul orders them all slaughtered, but his soldiers balk. But Doeg does the dirty deed and goes on to completely destroy their town. Ahimelech’s son Abiathar escapes to David, who claims responsibility for the act, and tells Abiathar “Stay with me, and do not be afraid; for the one who seeks your life seeks my life; you will be safe with me (I Samuel: 22:23).
Deborah and Barak: The military leader of Israel is afraid to fight the Canaanites unless accompanied by the Judge and Prophetess Deborah. He says to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; if you will not go with me, I will not go.” (Judges 4).
The fourth man: When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are thrown into the fiery furnace, a mysterious man or angel appears with them through the trial (Daniel 3).
Tobias and Azariah: The deuterocanonical book of Tobit is a piece of Jewish folklore that tells the story of a young man who has to undertake a dangerous journey to a far city. On the way, he has to rescue a beautiful woman from the spells of a powerful demon. Fortunately, his traveling companion, who he believes to be a distant cousin, is actually the archangel Raphael in disguise.
Can we be the fourth man? Or the Archangel in disguise?
DAVE ROBERSON is a free-lance writer/editor and former aerospace engineer. He resides in Greenwich, Conn., and attends First Church of Greenwich. He spent several months doing mission work in Croatia last year.
