Snakes on a Plain - The Real Story of Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland (no duh). America has kind of hijacked his feast day (March 17) to go full blown ‘murica with the celebration. Sound familiar? I’m looking at you Cinco De Mayo. While these holidays can be a fun celebration in their current form, there’s actually an amazing story behind the St Paddy’s Day festivities that should really be celebrated more. 

Based on the title of this article you may think you know the story. Legend has it that St. Patrick stood on an Irish hillside and banished all the snakes out of Ireland and into the sea (Snakes on a plain become snakes down a drain). There really isn’t any evidence that snakes ever existed in Ireland, so let’s just chalk this title up as a bad (awesome) dad joke. Now for the real amazing story. 

St. Patrick isn’t Irish. He was born in Britain, but he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken into slavery to Ireland. There, he did hard labor for many years before escaping slavery and reuniting with his family. But during that time his faith was invigorated, and years after he escaped, he had a dream which compelled him to go back to Ireland. This was the very land of his bondage - yet he was going back to reach people in the name of Jesus.  

Today, St. Patrick is credited with spreading Christ across Ireland, baptizing countless new believers into his Kingdom. Another story says he used the three leaf clover to illustrate the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit - three leaves on one stem). Patrick didn’t have a great education and lacked qualifications to be a missionary by the standards of the religious hierarchy of the day. Yet, with a zeal for Christ in his heart, he went forth in faith and made a huge impact in Irish people’s lives for God. 

Here is a man who was ripped from his family at a young age in an act of evil and injustice, forced into slavery, yet made a harrowing escape, then went back to participate in the mission of Christ to seek and save the people of Ireland. This is an amazing story of God’s sovereignty and Patrick’s openness to God’s transforming power in his life. His life in Christ enabled him to faithfully abide in Christ when his circumstances would otherwise dictate he should hate God and hate Ireland. 

This amazing true story demonstrates a powerful truth we find in God’s Word in Genesis 50:

[15] When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” [16] So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: [17] ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. [18] His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” [19] But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? [20] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. [21] So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Joseph was one of the 12 sons of Jacob. In an evil act of betrayal, they left him for dead in a pit. He was eventually sold into slavery in Egypt and thrown into prison. Yet the sovereign hand of the Lord was on him, and he eventually became Pharaoh’s right-hand man. In this role, he prevented many lives from being lost due to a famine that would cripple the land. 

Joseph’s brothers think he’ll hate them and exact vengeance on them, yet in an act of mercy, Joseph forgives his brothers, and he “comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

What love to forgive the very people who sought to destroy you. 

We see the ultimate display of this love in Jesus, who was despised and rejected by man, yet willingly laid his life down to redeem us. Only in Christ can we see what true love is. Only in Christ can we see forgiveness and the power to “bless those who persecute you.” Christ died for his enemies. 

And so St. Patrick, being in Christ, is able to choose mercy and forgiveness, rather than vengeance and hate. His story is the embodiment of Genesis 50:20

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 

Had he not been forcefully taken to Ireland, would he have later had a heart for those people to compel him to go back and bring many to saving faith in Christ? But as it is, God can use our worst circumstances for our good to bring about his glory through us. 

This Saint Patrick’s day, let’s celebrate the overwhelming mercy and forgiveness of Christ and his ability to “work together for good” all things for “those who love God” and “who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). To be found in Christ is to be secure, no matter the circumstances. Yes, even joy in suffering. 

It would have been easy for Patrick to think his life was over as he was working the fields as a slave. Yet, in his darkest days I believe Patrick might have held onto this Biblical truth: 

Jeremiah 29:11-14

[11] For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [12] Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. [13] You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Let’s call upon the Lord in our distress, and he will bring us home in Christ. This is a promise of God. Amen and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!