“Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.” Acts 21:8-9 (NIV)
Before you take me to task on the above heading, let me categorically state that there is no such place as Rehoboth Caesarea. It simply does not exist. It is a figment of my imagination, or rather a compound word that aptly expresses the profound spiritual truth I want to share with you. Caesarea was the Syrian city founded by the Romans and in which Philip finally settled to continue the next phase of his life and ministry. Rehoboth was the place where Isaac finally settled after being hounded by the jealous and increasingly fearful inhabitants of Gerar as expounded in Gen 26 on accounts of Isaac’s growing wealth.
In response to a famine in Canaan, Isaac decided to head for the lush valleys of Egypt, but was commanded by God to stay in Gerar. Every instinct in Isaac’s body told him to move, probably because of some negative things he had perceived about the place, but in obedience to God Isaac stayed and was blessed exceedingly by God. However, if you thought that everything would go well for Isaac just because he was obedient to God, events soon proved otherwise. His unwelcome prosperity was making enemies for him and the people of Gerar started making trouble for him. He was consequently forced to move three times from one well to the other. The first well he named Esek meaning contention, the second he named Sitnah meaning enmity and the third he named Rehoboth meaning room. At Rehoboth, Isaac was finally able to live in peace and his erstwhile enemies were ultimately forced to seek peace with him.
Philip was the beneficiary of the crisis that resulted from the discrimination against the Hellenic Jewish widows, but this proved to be only the beginning of God’s plan for his life. Like Isaac, Philip stayed focused on what was important, walked in love and in so doing commended his life to God by his holy living. Consequently, God, in cognisance of His word in Isa 66:2 that He highly regards a man or woman with a contrite and broken heart, who trembles at His word, became Philip’s cheerleader. It is no wonder that Philip became the success that he was. Jerusalem might not have been the most veritable place to start out in ministry, but Caesarea proved to be the place of his dream where he was accepted and ministered effectively for many years. The last time we heard about Philip, he was still relevant and his family’s hospitality was legendary. While on his final journey to Jerusalem, Paul’s entourage stayed in Philip’s house and the renowned prophet Agabus also stayed with him.
Whilst he was no longer engaged in itinerant ministry, it meant that Philip was able to devote more of his time to raising a godly family. To the end of his earthly sojourn, Philip remained useful to God. Like Isaac, Philip knew when to stay or move on from an area and thus remained relevant leading him to achieve kingdom significance. So, if you want to remain relevant, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and like Philip, you will be like the palm which yields fruit in old age.
Prayer:
Lord, give me wings to fly and room to grow into. Lead me to my own Rehoboth, so that I can be all you made me to be to the glory of your name. Amen.