If you grew up on a farm, you may know what a goad is. It is a long stick with two metal hooks at the end, used to direct or prod oxen or cattle to keep them in a straight line while working the fields. Goads were also used to keep oxen from falling into ditches, where they could break a leg—or worse, become trapped and die. For oxen that were challenging to manage, the farmer would use the goad to prick the animal so that work remained fruitful and to keep it from wandering into danger. Certain strong-willed oxen would kick against the goad in rebellion, which, in turn, could create wounds to the hoof or leg, making their walk more difficult and often causing a limp. Oxen that fell into the habit of kicking the goad were often left as useless animals, no longer fit for work, or even put to death.
With that picture in mind, God uses this same image to speak directly to a man’s heart through His Word. Notice in Acts 26:13–14 that Jesus is speaking directly to Paul when He says, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” These are words that all men should consider.
About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Acts 26:12-14
These verses describe Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Afterward, God changed Saul’s name to Paul. Like Paul, God created us for both fellowship and an assignment. And like Paul, we have a choice—to follow this calling or to reject it.
Like an ox rejecting the farmer’s direction and protection, when we kick against the goad, we only cause damage to ourselves. The goad is not punishment; it is loving discipline. God’s Word tells us that He faithfully corrects His children.
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Hebrews 12:5-6
This correction, much like the goad, is meant to guide us and keep us on the path that He has called us to. It is intended to prevent us from falling into a ditch with little means of getting out. If we constantly kick against His discipline or, in Paul’s case, the goad, all we are doing is hurting ourselves. If we don’t turn from this, then we are resisting His discipline and enabling our own demise.
“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Acts 26:15-18
Notice that Jesus first tells Paul to get up before revealing that He has not only appeared to him, but also appointed him to a task. This principle applies to us as men as well.
- First, stop kicking the goad, which only hurts us.
- Second, stand up! Yes, get up, dust ourselves off.
- Third, we have seen Jesus through His Word and,
- Fourth, He called us into an assignment.
Jesus was sending Paul, the chief of goad kickers, into a world of other goad kickers to show them who Jesus is. Paul’s assignment was to turn the goad kickers, like him, from the darkness they lived in to the light and grace of his Father. He was to turn them from the power of darkness and rebellion to the light of Christ’s kingdom of goodness and mercy. Men, God wants us, in love, to goad or spur each other on to follow our God-given assignments.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24
Like Paul, we have all kicked against the goad, lived with the consequences of that rebellion, and come up limping. But like Paul, God says, “Get up and stop kicking,” because He still wants to use us. He has an assignment for us: to help other goad-kickers open their eyes and turn from the power of darkness to the light.
The greatest thing about God’s goodness is that the worst goad-kickers often end up becoming the best oxen. As men, we may carry a goad limp—but we strive to live GOAD FREE.
Have a great weekend.
SL Thomas
Red Truck Men