Where Are You, God? 30 First Encounters With Godنموونە

Day 20: The Ethiopian Eunuch - Africa Reached

Sometimes God's most important assignments come with the least explanation. Philip discovered this when an angel gave him a seemingly random command: "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza" (Acts 8:26). No explanation, no context, just "go."

As Philip walked the dusty desert road, he encountered a remarkable sight: an Ethiopian eunuch sitting in his chariot, reading from the scroll of Isaiah. This wasn't just any traveler—he was in charge of the queen of Ethiopia’s entire treasury. He had made the long journey to Jerusalem to worship and was now returning home.

Divine Appointment

The Holy Spirit prompted Philip to approach the chariot. As he did so, Philip heard the man reading aloud from Isaiah 53. Philip asked a simple question: "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30).

The eunuch's honest response opened the door: "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He invited Philip to join him in the chariot, and Philip found himself with a captive audience hungry for truth.

The Perfect Text

The passage couldn't have been more perfect. The eunuch was reading about the suffering servant: “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). Starting with this very Scripture, Philip told him the good news about Jesus.

Immediate Response

As they traveled, they came to some water. The eunuch's response was immediate: "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" (Acts 8:36). Without hesitation, they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Africa's First Convert

The moment the eunuch came up from the water, "the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away" (Acts 8:39). Philip's mission was complete. The eunuch rejoiced as he returned home, carrying the Gospel back to Ethiopia and becoming Africa's first recorded Christian convert.

Strategic Encounter

This wasn't a random meeting—it was a divine appointment. Through one obedient evangelist and one seeking heart, the Gospel crossed into Africa. The Ethiopian's high position meant the message would spread throughout his sphere of influence.

Your Desert Road

God still arranges divine appointments on unexpected roads. Your willingness to follow His prompts, even without full understanding, could lead to someone's eternal transformation.