Rejoicing on Our Way
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
- Acts 8:39
The Bible tells the story of a man from Ethiopia who came to Jerusalem, searching for God. This man was in a high cabinet possession in which he served the queen. He no doubt traveled with an entourage, because he was a man of importance. He had heard about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the faith of the Jewish people. So he went to Jerusalem to look for God, but he didn't find him.
Yet he did obtain something of great value: a scroll of Isaiah, which he happened to be reading as he made his journey back home. It just so happened that as he was reading from Isaiah 53 and cruising along in his chariot, Philip came along. God had told him to go to the desert, but he didn't know why. He was just standing around in the middle of nowhere, waiting. Then this entourage came by, and Philip looked up and heard this dignitary reading from Isaiah 53. So Philip approached him and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30).
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The dignitary answered, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" (verse 31). Then he invited Philip to join him. So Philip climbed into the chariot, explained Isaiah 53, and told him that it was speaking of the Messiah. Jesus is the one who fulfilled that Scripture, who died on the cross, and who rose again from the dead. Wanting to believe, the man said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (verse 36). So Philip told him that nothing hindered him if he believed with his whole heart. The story ends with the dignitary going on his way, rejoicing.
And so it is for everyone who comes to faith in Christ: we go on our way, rejoicing.
