"Hindsight" December 8, 2019

Overview

Hindsight: Seeing the Hand of God

There's a common saying that "hindsight is 20/20." When we look back at a decision, a season, or a struggle, we often see with a clarity that simply wasn't available to us in the moment. Details fall into place, motives become clearer, and the ramifications make sense in ways they couldn't before. Scripture invites us into this same backward gaze—not to wallow in regret, but to recognize the unseen hand of God at work in our lives.

Paul Before Gallio

In Acts 18:11-17, Paul has been teaching in Corinth for eighteen months when the Jews mount yet another united attack against him—a pattern we see repeatedly in Acts 9:23, Acts 13:50, Acts 17:5, and Acts 18:5. Their argument before Gallio, the Roman proconsul, was strategic: Judaism had legal standing in Rome, and they claimed Paul's preaching violated their tolerated religion, making it illegal by extension.

But Gallio—a pagan brother of the philosopher Seneca, and a man known for emphasizing morality and justice—saw through the maneuver. He recognized this as an internal religious dispute and rendered a summary judgment, throwing the case out of court. With one ruling, God used a non-believer to protect Paul and effectively grant Christianity space to grow throughout the region.

Anticipatory Hindsight

Now look back at Acts 18:9-10, where the Lord had told Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people." When Paul stood before that tribunal, he could look back and see the very promise of his safety being fulfilled—through a pagan magistrate, no less. The result? Ten more years of gospel proclamation that might never have happened had the case gone differently.

This is what we might call anticipatory hindsight—the confidence of the believer who, while still in the middle of the cloudiness, says, "I look forward to seeing how God is going to work this out." It rests on the promise of Romans 8:28: "We know that all things work together for good, for those who love God who are called according to his purpose." Not some things. Not occasionally. All things.

Pastoral Application

The guarantee behind this promise is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself—crucified for your sins, risen from the dead, reigning over all. Because every promise of God is secured in Him, you can stand amid the "all things" of life with calm and confidence, even when the view ahead is cloudy.

Whatever God allows to pass before His throne is permitted for two purposes: His ultimate glory and your ultimate good. He is not content to leave us as kindergartners in faith; He uses every hardship to mature us into the likeness of Christ and to equip us to minister to others walking similar paths. So embrace the cloudiness when you cannot understand. Trust the Guarantor. And anticipate the day when you will look in the rearview mirror and say, "Now I see how He worked it out. Now I see what He brought from this." That day will come—and when it does, the only fitting response is praise.

Transcript

Hinesite, hindsight. 2s

Perhaps you've heard the phrase or you've used it yourself. 5s

Hinesite is 100% or hindsight is 2020. 9s

In other words, when you're looking over your shoulder at something that is occurred, 16s

there is a greater clarity of vision in terms of understanding, isn't there? 20s

Hinesite are those times when you look back at something and you say, 28s

you know, I might have phrased that a little bit differently. 32s

Or you look back at something and you say, 36s

I might have made a different decision now as I look back. 39s

Or it's those times when you look upon a situation and you see the various details. 46s

The various things that went into a decision and then the ramifications of that 53s

and you have a greater understanding of the various root, 60s

the various directions, the various details. 65s

Simply because you're looking back on something in hindsight. 71s

I bring that up this morning because what we're going to do in the text today is we're going to look back 79s

with hindsight because it is with hindsight that we get the correct vision and understanding. 84s

So let's get to work. 95s

First thing we have to do is we have to understand the text, right? 97s

So let's look at verse 11, please, chapter 18 of the book of Acts. 100s

There the scripture says, he, Paul, stayed there a year and six months teaching the word of God among them. 106s

I remember where he was from last week, he's in Corinth at this point. 116s

So the scripture tells us that Paul stays then in Corinth for 18 months teaching and teaching and teaching the very word of Almighty God. 120s

We go on verse 12. 134s

But when Galileo was pro-council of a Kia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal. 136s

Have we seen a tax on Paul before by the Jews? 153s

Indeed, we have. 159s

Turn with me, please, to chapter 9, verse 23, Acts chapter 9, verse 23. 160s

In chapter 9, verse 23, we read this. 174s

After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him. 179s

Let's turn to the 13th chapter, please, verse 50, Acts chapter 13, verse 50. 187s

There we read. 199s

But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing in the leading men of the city and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their region. 201s

Or let's go to Acts 17, verse 5, Acts 17, verse 5. 216s

But the Jews became jealous and with a help of some roughions in the market places they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. 226s

Her lastly, as recently as chapter 18, verse 5, please, chapter 18, verse 5. 238s

When silence and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word, 248s

testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. 254s

When they opposed and reviled him, it's the same story, isn't it? 261s

Why was there these constant attacks on Paul? 269s

See what we see is this frustration amongst the Jews at the growing expansion of Christianity. 274s

And so the Jews move as they see this growing expansion of Christianity, the Jews move to attack Paul to attack Christianity. 285s

There's frustration and so what do they do with their frustration? 295s

Attack Paul, attack Paul because this message is spreading. 302s

Let's get some more understanding, verse 13. 310s

They said, this man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law of Christianity. 313s

Paul, what's this about? 325s

Judaism was tolerated by the Romans. 332s

It was, it had what's called a legal standing in the society. 336s

So here's the argument. 341s

The Jews were saying, you know how we have legal standing with you, Romans? 343s

This Christianity that Paul's proclaiming, why it's contrary to what we proclaim. 350s

Therefore, since we have legal standing with you, what Paul is preaching is contrary to what we preach. 360s

Therefore, what Paul is doing is illegal because we are the legal ones. 369s

Wrong? 380s

That's the argument. 381s

It goes on, verse 14. 384s

Just as Paul was about to speak, Galileo said to the Jews, let's pause there. 386s

Galileo had a brother, Seneca. 393s

Seneca was famous. 397s

He's a famous writer in the Roman Empire. 398s

Galileo and his brother, Seneca. 404s

They were pagan, they were nonbelievers. 408s

But they placed a great emphasis on morality and justice. 411s

Why, in fact, ten years from this point because of their emphasis on morality and justice, 416s

the Roman Emperor Neuro is going to execute them. 425s

And by the way, just a little aside here, Neuro was the one that executed Paul. 428s

If you've got Galileo here, he's a man of some assemblance here of morality and justice here. 435s

He's the pro council. 444s

No, just what he says. 446s

Second part of verse 14. 448s

Galileo says, 450s

If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you. 453s

Okay, let's pause here. 462s

You know, little phrase you Jews? 465s

That is not in the firming stroke. 467s

It's not. 471s

Check back into verse 2 of verse 18. 471s

There, the scripture says, 476s

Then he, Paul, founded Jude named Aquila, a native of Pontus, 479s

who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, 483s

because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. 487s

Why did he order all the Jews to leave the Rome? 494s

Because the Jews were regarded in the society as trouble makers. 498s

Why would they trouble makers? 501s

Because they were always fighting with each other. 502s

They were fighting over religious matters. 505s

And the Romans said, 507s

We can't stand this. 508s

We don't have a dog in the hunt here. 510s

These are just a bunch of trouble makers here. 512s

Kick him out. 516s

Get rid of them. 517s

And so, when it says, 520s

If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, 523s

I'd be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews. 525s

You trouble makers. 529s

Then he says, 532s

But since it's a matter of questions about words and names 533s

and your own loss, see to it yourselves, 537s

I do not wish to be a judge of these matters. 540s

And he dismissed them from the tribunal. 544s

What is it? 547s

It's a summary judgment, isn't it? 548s

It is a declaration that, 550s

Case is over. 552s

It's thrown out. 553s

I'm not going to hear it. 555s

We're done. 556s

I'm not going to get involved in your religious squabbles, 557s

trouble makers. 563s

For 17, 566s

then all of them seized sostenies, 568s

the official of the synagogue, 572s

and beat him in front of the tribunal. 576s

But Galileo paid no attention to any of these things. 580s

Who's sostenies? 588s

When we know sostenies, 591s

became a Christian. 592s

That's in first Corinthians. 593s

Was he a Christian at this point? 595s

Don't know. 597s

Don't know. 598s

So one of two things happened. 600s

Either he's beaten because he was a Christian 601s

or he's beaten because he lost the case. 603s

But the people who are right, 607s

it's a mess. 609s

Okay, so there's the understanding of the text. 612s

So then the question is, 614s

why does God inspire this text 616s

to be included in Holy Scripture? 618s

What's the point of the story? 622s

Why is this even included in Scripture for us? 625s

Over the years, 635s

I have heard a phrase. 637s

And every time I hear it, 641s

I love it. 642s

A person will say this. 645s

I look forward, 649s

I look forward to see how God is going to work this out. 651s

That is a glorious phrase. 659s

It's cousins this. 661s

I look forward, 662s

I've heard this too. 663s

I look forward to see 665s

what God is going to bring out of this. 667s

So I look forward to see how God is going to work this out 672s

or the cousin. 677s

I look forward to see what God is going to bring out of this. 679s

Now you know what that is? 687s

Know what that is? 689s

That's anticipatory hindsight. 692s

What it is? 695s

The anticipatory hindsight. 696s

It is the Christian amidst whatever is going on 699s

saying, there is going to be a point 703s

when I'm going to be able to look back 707s

and make some assemblance of sense out of this. 709s

That is anticipatory hindsight. 713s

Why ponder the text with me a moment? 720s

Paul is brought in for judgment. 723s

He stands before the tribunal. 727s

This is looking rather bleak here. 730s

But what does he discover? 734s

What do he discover? 736s

Take a look when he plays a chapter 18 verse 9. 737s

One night, the Lord said to Paul in a vision, 742s

do not be afraid, 746s

speak and do not be silent 748s

for I am with you. 750s

No one will lay a hand on you to harm you. 752s

For there are many in this city who are my people. 757s

And then it says, he stayed there a year and six months 762s

teaching the Word of God a month. 765s

So here he is. 769s

He is brought in for judgment. 770s

Cases thrown out. 773s

He can look back in hindsight. 776s

And what does he see? 778s

But he sees the very promise that was given to him for his safety. 782s

What else could he do? 791s

He could look back into hindsight. 792s

And he could see how God used a pagan, a pagan. 795s

He is a non-believer here. 799s

How God used a pagan to release him. 801s

And you know what the end result of that was? 805s

The end result of it is it allowed Paul to preach for ten more years 807s

the gospel of Jesus Christ. 814s

Instead of being shut down there in front of the tribunal 816s

because of the release how God uses a pagan. 819s

Paul goes on then to proclaim for ten years. 823s

You see there is one who can look back in hindsight and say, 828s

I remember that day. 832s

I remember that day when I stood before Galileo and the Pro Council. 834s

And how he said, I'm not getting into this and just through everything 840s

out of court exactly the promise that I had received in the vision 843s

for my safety. 848s

I remember that day of how God used a pagan to release me. 849s

And the end result is ten more years of proclaiming the gospel. 858s

You see there is one who looks back and sees the hand of God. 868s

Paul writes in Romans the 8th chapter, 883s

we know that all things work together for good, 888s

for those who love God who are called according to His purpose. 895s

Now does it say here that we know that every now and then a couple of things 902s

will work out for good to those who love the Lord? 910s

Does that what it says? 914s

Does it say we know that every now and then 917s

surprise of surprises, things work out for good 923s

to those who love God? 927s

No, what does it say? 930s

We know that all things, all things work together. 932s

For good to those who love God. 941s

See that beloved means that for the Christian, the Christian can stand amidst the 949s

times of the all things with the confidence that God will use them 954s

and that we will come to the point where we will be able to look back in hindsight 963s

and see the very hand of God. 967s

That's difficult when you're going through the all things, isn't it? 969s

But when God gives the gift of hindsight, 975s

then all of a sudden we see by His grace the hand of God. 979s

Jesus has died for you. 988s

He rose for you. 990s

Your sins have been atone for, your debt has been paid. 992s

Death has been overcome. 997s

Christ Jesus is reigning and is Lord of all and the guarantee of the fact that God has 1000s

involved in the very details of our lives. 1010s

The guarantee of that fact is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. 1014s

In fact, Scripture says, every promise has as the guarantee of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1019s

That means standing amidst the all things we can stand with the calm and the confidence 1028s

of the guarantors guarantee that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord 1037s

that indeed there will come the point when by God's grace hindsight is given. 1046s

And we can look back at the all things. 1054s

And tisibatory hindsight. 1066s

That means embracing the cloudiness and embracing the inability to understand embracing the all things 1072s

with the confidence of the hindsight to come. 1084s

And when the hindsight comes, when you are able to look back and look back and look back and look back 1094s

and say, oh, now I see how he worked that out. 1100s

Now I see what he has brought out of this. 1113s

When the day that you have anticipated becomes reality and the view in the rear view mirror 1119s

has become clear and you can look back now not anticipating the hindsight but you look back at the reality of it. 1127s

Praise. 1141s

Because whatever God allows in our life, whatever he allows 1146s

is for his ultimate glory and our ultimate good. 1156s

Whatever passes before his throne and God nods, it is to bring him glory and it is to mature us. 1166s

Because you see God does not want us to be kindergartners in our walk of faith. 1180s

And he uses all things to mature us to be more like Christ. 1191s

And it is with that gift of the hindsight we can look back and we can say. 1199s

Was that difficult? 1211s

Absolutely it was. 1214s

But I see the hand of God in maturing me, maturing me so that I am deeper in my walk of faith so that I can minister to others who perhaps are traversing a similar landscape. 1218s

It is that gift when one looks back and one can see there is the maturing or that is how God worked it out. 1238s

And it is that cause for praise. 1248s

Because everything is for his glory and our maturing everything. 1254s

Beloved and dissipate the hindsight. 1270s

And anticipate the hindsight. 1277s