The Book of Acts briefly relates accounts of three different men named Ananias. Ananias means, "The Lord has been gracious," but all three men struggled in varying degrees with living up to this name. The first Ananias, a believer, was married to Sapphira. His greed and envy motivated both him and his wife to lie to God and his fellow believers to attain an undeserved reputation for generosity. No one was fooled and God struck them dead for lying in church, which explains our scruples about that particular sin.
The third Ananias achieved the position of High Priest during Paul's ministry, but he exploited his power. He came after Paul with a vengeance and even commanded guards to strike the missionary during the trial (Acts 23:1-5) for saying, 'My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.' SMACK! No graciousness flowing from this trigger happy religious Ananias who used the opportunity to exert his rank and express his prejudices.
The other Ananias, the disciple from Damascus whom God called to minister to the newly-converted Saul, struggled to show grace as well, but he proved an "Ananias" can succeed. The following is the only account of his life, yet what an important intervention he fulfilled.
"The Lord told him (Ananias - after calling his name in a vision), 'Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. . . In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.'
(verses 13-16 recount Ananias' objections to this call and the Lord's further command to 'Go!' as well as the Lord's explanation of how He would use Paul)
"Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here -- has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Ananias' immediate answer to the Lord was "Yes" until he heard what God wanted to him to do: go to this address, ask for a known Christian-killer, place your hands on his eyes and restore his sight so he can see. Like me, and maybe like you, Ananias wanted clarification. This disciple's name meant "The Lord has been gracious," he was saved by the grace of Jesus' death, he obviously lived in communion with the Lord, yet when the moment to express grace arrived, he balked.
I find it fascinating that the Lord had more confidence in Ananias' obedience than Ananias did. God had already given Saul a vision of "a man named Ananias" (not Peter, John, Barnabas, Silas, or some unnamed believer) coming to fulfill a specific call. If Ananias refused, he wouldn't be the only one who knew he disobeyed God. If he obeyed, Saul's faith would jump start into incredible growth as he personally experienced God's Word unfold in his life. The first words Saul heard from Ananias were words of grace: "Brother Saul." God's grace flowing through Ananias transformed Saul from enemy to brother. It would be hard to say who experienced the greater grace by this experience, Ananias or Saul.
How could Saul not call anyone who believed in Christ "brother" after Ananias spoke tom him with such grace and acceptance? The first man Saul saw when he opened his eyes was Ananias, the obedient, God-called Ananias who spoke what only God could have told him to speak. Ananias' obedience to God's call was a foundation to Saul/Paul for becoming a man who trusted God in every circumstance. Later, Saul wouldn't hesitate to take the Good News to Macedonia after seeing in his own vision a Macedonian man calling him to come help them.
If this were the only time God used Ananias, it was enough, but obedience and courage are hard to find in believers. I have a feeling Ananias watched Saul from behind the scenes, constantly amazed at how "The Lord has been gracious."
Father, thank You for Your patience with us when we question, question, question You. We want to be an Ananias to a Paul or a Paul to a Macedonia, yet we falter, hesitate, fear, or let our selfish interests rule. Paul saw You and the next thing he saw was You in Ananias. What a key link we can be if we'll trust and obey You! Save us from our own lack of faith. Help us be obedient to You for the sake of others. Let Your Grace flow freely through us into their lives as we live up to our name of Christian - "little Christs."
In the Name of Jesus, Whose Life, Death, and intercession proves the Lord has been gracious!
Inspired by My Utmost for His Highest
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