Is it Hard to Kick Against the Pricks?

I was out walking my six month old puppy last night, her name is Narnia.  She is a Blue Tick Coon Hound and Black Retriever mix.  All in all she is proving to be a good dog but very stubborn.  The stars were out, the air was a little cool, I was a little tired and she was just a little too interested in all the smells along the path. My primary goals for the outdoor excursion were for her to do her business and get some exercise before bed time; her primary goals were to explore her world and play.  Yes, there was a very clear cut crash of wills, but I had to prevail because I am her master and she must obey me.  So our entire foray sounded like this, "Narnia, walk, Narnia, walk, Narnia, no, walk, no, walk.  Narnia, come.  Narnia, come.  No...I said come.  Narnia, COME!  Narnia, COME!  GOOD GIRL, no, walk, Narnia, walk.  NARNIA...WALK!  Narnia, I...SAID....WALK.  Good girl, that's right, good… no, WALK!  Come, Narnia come, Narnia COME.  NARNIA COME;" This entire monolog grew in tones of frustration and was punctuated repeatedly by tugs on her collar. Before the walk was over we were both a little weary of the excursion. 

In my mind, every time I tugged her leash, every time she grew distracted and meandered off on her own path, every time something stopped her in her tracks, every time some elusive scent led her astray of my planned route; I could see myself in my walk with God.  How similar I am to that puppy; in fact the Bible calls us sheep. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;..." (Isaiah 53:6) Christians are compared to dumb animals that require the Shepherds guiding and protection for their very survival. Now admittedly, my pup is probably smarter than the average sheep, but the image still holds true.

Regularly Narnia gets tangled up in her leash and requires my assistance to set her free.  Every looming obstacle frightens her and requires my intervention.  Sometimes she becomes so frightened that I must stand between her line of site and the offending, fearsome obstacle; once her eyes are back on me, she becomes brave and can move forward.  Sometimes that doesn't work and I must resort to picking her up and carrying her past the fearsome mountain.  Regularly I have to remind her of the task at hand and keep her on the straight path that I have set for her.  I have to pull her off all the garbage she tries to digest along the way because I know that many things may taste good to her now but could make her sick later.   I have to force her to walk and run when she would rather play because I know that she needs the exercise.  I see the path ahead and as her loving master I know what is best for her.  I also recognize that in order for her to be a profitable addition to my family she must learn obedience. 

Is that any different than the care and superintendence God gives to us that are covered by the blood and filled with the Holy Spirit; called according to his purpose? (Romans 8:28)  I lose my patience with Narnia but God has infinite patience and mercy with my waywardness.  He calls to me daily correcting my wandering steps and redirecting me when I grow distracted or follow a "false scent."  He starts out with a still, small voice...urging me to listen through all the noise.  When I ignore him, he speaks a little louder.  If I continue to ignore him the correction can become quite clear and rather uncomfortable.  He knows what is best for me, what things I should not digest, what obstacles will require his help to navigate around, how important it is to keep me moving forward and how essential it is to keep my eyes focused on him. 

This reminds me of what Christ said to Saul when he struck him blind on the road to Damascus.  "And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." (Acts 26:14)

I always used to wonder what that statement meant, "kick against the pricks," now I understand. Saul was a zealous persecutor of the Christians in the early church.  He had heard the witness of Stephen before the High Priest, and stood witness as Stephen was stoned. "... and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul." (Acts 7:58) Out of zeal for his Jewish faith he set out to destroy the church.  "Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison" (Acts 8:3).

"I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished" (Acts 22:4-5).

But God had a different plan for Saul's life; God sought him for his own purpose.  Many times God had spoken to Saul to turn him; many times he had jerked his collar trying to get his attention.  But Saul continued to resist so God had to speak louder.  That was what was meant by the pricks.  In the time of the first century church, soil was tilled by the brute force of oxen.  Oxen are stubborn and powerful beasts so a goad was necessary to "encourage" the ox to do what the farmer needed him to do.  The goad was usually a pointed spike (prick) fastened to the end of a long wooden shaft   If the ox was having trouble staying on task the farmer would prick the Ox with the goad.  Sometimes the Ox would rebel against the command and kick back at the goad; this would drive the prick deeper into its flesh.  The more the Ox rebelled, the more it kicked, the harder the prick. With the use of these words and the image they provoke it is clear that God had been speaking to Saul for a long time.  We know that Saul was a young man when he witnessed the stoning of Stephen, who knows how many lives he had cost and how many years had passed before he finally submitted to God's calling. How long has God been calling you?   

If I am consistent with my pup as God is consistent with me, one day Narnia will come instantly when I call.  The sound of my voice will be the first call she heeds.  She will discover that obedience to me means life and liberty for her.  Pleasing me will become her greatest joy because she will learn to trust my leading and to value my control in her life.  I desire to respond the same way to God.  My way leads to confusion, oppression, entanglement, weariness and ultimate dissatisfaction. Jesus gives new life; newness of purpose and a promise of a future hope.  Teach me Lord to recognize the pricks of the goad and turn quickly to the sound of your voice.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

God Bless,
Amy Charissa Warren