Shake off that viper!

Shake off that viper!

Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”(Acts 28:3-4)

This is the account of the apostle Paul who along with others were ship-wrecked and landed on the island called Malta. The islanders showed them unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed them all, because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.

When the islanders saw the snake hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to each other “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” The islanders (or barbarians as KJV puts it) who have seen the man Paul for only just a little while, immediately pass judgement on him. But we see Paul just shaking off the viper into the fire and suffering no ill effects.
Perhaps we can overlook the attitude of these islanders because they were barbarians and perhaps idol worshippers for they believed in the goddess Justice, but even believers, often judge others, jumping to conclusions, looking only superficially, without knowing the truth.

But when Paul shook off the snake into the fire and suffered nothing in his body, the people were surprised. They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead. They waited for a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen; they changed their minds and said he was a god. That’s how people are; they just change their opinions, they change their minds. They may blatantly accuse you in front of others, but later on when they know the truth they just change their minds, perhaps say "i'm sorry" and carry on as if nothing happened.

But we see that Paul did not make a big fuss about the whole thing. He just went about his work on that island. He was called into pray for some of the sick, and in the name of Jesus he healed them. Paul was not unduly disturbed by the things the people said. Neither should we be. When people judge us unwantedly, we must maintain peace and go about doing our work and the Lord will establish that He is with us. The false accusers will eventually know that they were wrong in their judging. Maintain your calm when people speak against you and the Lord will definitely give you justice. He cares for you!