Perhaps Paul found it somewhat difficult at first to understand the reason for the blocking of his way in Acts 16. However, he was not long in doubt. For Paul had a vision in the night, and there stood before him a "man of Macedonia" beseeching him, and saying, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us".
Then Paul, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called them to preach the Gospel unto them, "Immediately endeavoured to go into Macedonia" (Acts 16:9).
Thus, did the Holy Spirit direct the feet of His servants. God saw not only the man of Macedonia, but he saw in Europe, lying beyond, a soil that would prove fertile to the Truth; and beyond Europe he saw our own land, America, in the coming days, the land of the Puritans and the land of the open heart and of freedom in worship.
Thus, it was that through Paul, the Gospel first traveled westward and not eastward. How thankful we should be for the man of Macedonia, and for the purposes of God which sent the Gospel out from Jerusalem, westward toward Italy and afterwards on to the British Isles, and afterward across the seas.
What a debt we owe to others in our world today who have not heard the Good News. Now God is calling us to girdle the whole world, east and west and north and south with the story of salvation!
"There's a call comes ringing o'er the restless wave, "Send the light! Send the light" There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save, Send the light! Send the light!
Send the light the blessed gospel light; Let it shine from shore to shore! Send the light the blessed gospel light; Let it shine forevermore!
We have heard the Macedonian call today, "Send the light! Send the light!" And a golden offering at the cross we lay, Send the light! Send the light!" — by Charles H. Gabriel, 1890