{"id":44183,"date":"2019-07-10T12:23:18","date_gmt":"2019-07-10T09:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44183"},"modified":"2025-05-05T22:11:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T19:11:16","slug":"it-is-hard-to-kick-against-the-goad-understanding-gods-purpose-and-our-resistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2019\/07\/10\/it-is-hard-to-kick-against-the-goad-understanding-gods-purpose-and-our-resistance\/","title":{"rendered":"It Is Hard to Kick Against the Goad\u201d \u2014 Understanding God\u2019s Purpose and Our Resistance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many of us desire to walk in God\u2019s purpose, but what happens when we resist it\u2014intentionally or unintentionally? In the calling of the Apostle Paul, we find a powerful metaphor that reveals the pain and futility of fighting against God’s will.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, \u2018Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.\u2019 Then I asked, \u2018Who are you, Lord?\u2019 \u2018I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,\u2019 the Lord replied.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Acts 26:14-15 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Let\u2019s explore what this phrase means and how it applies to us today.<\/p>\n

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1. Paul Was Not Spiritually Ignorant<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before his conversion, Saul (later Paul) was a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5), zealous for the Law and fiercely opposed to the early church. Yet, Paul wasn\u2019t ignorant of who Jesus was. He lived during Jesus\u2019 time, heard the gospel from Christians, and witnessed Stephen\u2019s death\u2014one of the first powerful gospel sermons.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Saul approved of their killing him.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Acts 8:1a (NIV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cWhen the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him\u2026 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Acts 7:54-55 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The phrase \u201cthey were cut to the heart\u201d (Acts 7:54<\/strong>) suggests conviction\u2014proof that they recognized the truth but rejected it out of pride and anger. Saul was deeply impacted by this event, even if he didn\u2019t admit it.<\/p>\n

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2. What Does \u201cKick Against the Goads\u201d Mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A goad<\/strong> was a long, sharp stick used by farmers to prod oxen into movement. If an ox kicked against the goad, it would only hurt itself more. Jesus uses this image to show Paul that resisting divine truth causes self-inflicted harm.<\/p>\n

Theological Insight:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The goad represents God\u2019s persistent attempts to guide and correct us\u2014through His Spirit, His Word, and sometimes through suffering. Paul had been resisting these prompts.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Psalm 32:9 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Just like stubborn animals need painful tools to obey, humans who resist God often experience unnecessary suffering.<\/p>\n

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3. Resisting God Is Dangerous<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Paul\u2019s journey mirrors that of Balaam<\/strong> (Numbers 22). Though God told Balaam not to go and curse Israel, he insisted. On the road, an angel prepared to kill him, but his donkey\u2014enabled by God\u2014saved his life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path… with a drawn sword in his hand… The Lord opened the donkey\u2019s mouth, and it said to Balaam, \u2018What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Numbers 22:23-28 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lesson:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Like Paul, Balaam\u2019s story is a warning: continued rebellion against God leads to destruction\u2014unless grace intervenes.<\/p>\n

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4. Two Responses to God\u2019s Conviction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are always two responses when God convicts the heart:<\/p>\n

A. Softened Hearts:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At Pentecost, those who heard Peter’s message responded with repentance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said\u2026 \u2018What shall we do?\u2019 Peter replied, \u2018Repent and be baptized\u2026\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Acts 2:37-38 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

B. Hardened Hearts:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

But those at Stephen\u2019s stoning responded with rage instead of repentance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him…\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Acts 7:57 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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5. Paul\u2019s Transformation: A Lesson in Mercy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Despite Paul\u2019s stubbornness, God intervened. Jesus met him personally, not to destroy him, but to redeem him. Paul went from a persecutor to an apostle\u2014the greatest missionary of the early church.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience…\u201d<\/em> \u2014 1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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6. Application: Are You Resisting God?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You may not be persecuting the church like Paul, but many resist God’s will in subtle ways\u2014ignoring conviction, rejecting correction, or hindering the spread of the gospel.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever is not with me is against me…\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Matthew 12:30 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Opposing God\u2019s work\u2014whether through pride, fear, jealousy, or indifference\u2014is like kicking against the goad. You may not see the pain immediately, but over time, it takes a toll on your spiritual, emotional, and even physical life.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion: Stop Fighting\u2014Surrender<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The message is simple but urgent: Don\u2019t fight God\u2019s purpose.<\/strong> If the Holy Spirit is convicting you\u2014through Scripture, through people, or through your circumstances\u2014listen and obey.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Hebrews 3:15 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Paul and Balaam were shown grace in their resistance. But we\u2019re not guaranteed that same delay in judgment. Let\u2019s respond now\u2014while mercy is still available.<\/p>\n

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Final Thought<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To fight against God is to harm yourself. To surrender to Him is to find true life. Don\u2019t kick against the goad.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stay alert. Stay humble. Stay aligned with God\u2019s will.<\/strong><\/p>\n

God bless you.<\/strong><\/p>\n