The Un-expected Expectation (Acts 2:1-13)
What expectations do we have of God? I expect God to make sense of suffering, to give purpose to my struggles, and a reason for living. But isn’t that selfish expectations? Do I really expect God to do something wonderful, some unmistakable, divine work?
My expectations reflect my beliefs. Do I believe? Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” (John 1:50)
God has given many promises, but often I lack the faith to see them. It isn’t that I don’t believe God can. It is more, I don’t think he will. I’m not sure there’s a big difference in my way of thinking, but it makes me feel better. “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
The disciples were gathered together on the celebration day of Pentecost, 50 days, the final party of the 7 weeks of First Fruits Festival after the Passover (vs. 1). They had been given the promise to expect the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11, Acts 1:5).
When God does something new, how can we know what to expect? We have no context from which to relate the expectation. It is un-expected. When I was expecting my first born, I tried to understand what to expect from family, friends, and medical professionals. But without experience, I had no real understanding of what to expect. Yes, I was expecting. No turning back from where I was going (giving birth), but the pain, the process, the emotion was all very unexpected. Seeing and experiencing the expectation was more that I could have expected.
The believers were together when some extreme, weird stuff happened (vs. 2-4). A powerful noise from heaven filled the place, and then a flame appeared then rested on each one present. Imagine the deafening noise and the eye-popping sights. This was a new thing. Then they were able to speak the native languages of all the festival goers from the many different nations (vs. 4, 6, 8, 11).
Jerusalem was swollen with crowds of celebrants and when they heard the noise they ran to see what was up (vs. 6), sort of like rubbernecking accidents on the highway. When God works, he desires to have it shared with others, and provides an audience for the telling of his mighty works. It wasn’t for the disciples benefit alone.
Don’t miss the fact that these guys were not learned people. They were common fisherman and the likes, but God did a work through them for the purpose of telling the crowds “the wonderful things God has done!” (vs. 11) God’s promised work was to use the common to display his glory.
We can expect various reactions to God’s work (vs. 12-13). Some will be amazed and ask further questions to understand more, while others will discount God and his doings with rationalization or unbelief. Mine is to live my common life in God’s uncommon way of telling others about the wonderful things God has done, leaving the response to God.
Trying to expect God’s promises, believing them as truth,
Not for my glory, but his!
What a great life God has given!
Robin
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