After the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the early Christian church was experiencing tremendous growth under the leadership of the Apostles. Thousands of Jews were becoming Christians. The Jewish leaders were struggling to maintain the stability of their religion against huge changes brought about by the Roman Empire and from the newly developing Christian church.

The men of the Sanhedrin, the ancient religious ruling body of Judaism, were feeling very threatened about the rapid changes taking place in the religious climate. They arrested the apostles then called a meeting to deliberate their fate. Gamaliel, the most famous Jewish teacher of his time and a member of the Sanhedrin, rose to address the meeting. Listen to his wise words, “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men. You’ll only find yourself fighting against God.”

Gamaliel believed that God was sovereign and in control of what was happening. Rather than have the Sanhedrin decide what to do about these Christians, he felt they should sit back and leave the whole matter in God’s hands.

That’s still good advice for us today. When we are caught in a sea of change and feel threatened, let’s take a step back and rest in the knowledge that God is the one in control. Like Gamaliel, may we realize that all that is against God will eventually fail and that which is for him will eventually prevail.