Why did Saul go to Arabia after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus? Scholars think this is the area around Mt. Sinai. Luke doesn’t give us this fact in Acts; Saul (Paul) writes this himself. Galatians 1:17b I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.[1]
Mt. Sinai was significant in Jewish history. Moses saw the burning bush there and later returned with the nation of Israel to receive the Ten Commandments. God made a covenant with Israel there. (Exodus 3, 20) Later, Elijah, another Jewish hero, met with God after defeating the prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 19)
Parallels Between Elijah and Saul
Both Elijah and Saul had done the will of God and received death threats as a result. Elijah had a great victory over the prophets of Baal, resulting in Queen Jezebel threatening his life. Saul realized his mistake regarding Jesus’ identity. When Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he knew Jesus was the Messiah. As Saul began to preach this, the Jews began to push back. Both Elijah and Saul went to Mt. Sinai to meet with God, where He gave the original covenant to the nation of Israel.
At Sinai, God reassured Elijah that he was not the only one; there was a remnant. Then God gave Elijah specific instructions on anointed new leaders, and Elijah went to Damascus. We have nothing recorded about any conversations between God and Saul at Sinai. We do know that Saul returned to Damascus and began to preach powerfully. Acts 9: 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.[2]
A Life Turned Upside Down
The Damascus road incident had turned Saul’s life upside down. Was there some self-doubt in Saul’s zeal? I think Saul used this time in Arabia to really make sure that God was calling him to look at the Scriptures in a whole new way. He had always been loyal to the God of Israel, but now Saul could see the foreshadowing of Jesus in familiar stories of God. I think God revealed things to Saul that could only be seen in the light of Jesus. Saul would go on to use these insights in his evangelism.
God had turned Saul’s life upside down so that his ministry could begin to turn the world upside down. Acts 17:6bThese men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.[3] God continues to do the same for us today. He wants to ensure our zeal is for Him in the right way, even if He must do something dramatic to get our attention. God does this so that we, in turn, can point others to Him. We can’t give something we don’t have.
Where has God turned your world upside down? What does He want you to learn from that? God can redeem life’s upsets to be used for His kingdom. Take time to turn to Him like Saul and let Him reveal your purpose for this time.
Why did Saul go to Arabia? To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/from-persecutor-to-preacher
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ac 17:6–7). (2016). Crossway Bibles.