It is Good Friday - and I would love to talk about this - but alas - Acts 27 is about sailing and surviving a storm. Getting to know Paul better through this intense study of Acts I get the feeling he is highly intelligent, very devout, outspoken, and know-it-allish. In chapters 25 and 26 Paul appeals to Caesar. In all this trial stuff Paul is making his run at the supreme court. Remember God told him he would testify in Rome in Acts 23:11. They are on a boat trying to get to Rome. I'm not a nautical person, but I believe ship is the correct term - there are 276 people on board. There is nothing about Paul that makes me think he is very nautical either - we know he is a writer, prophet, tent maker, missionary, and former Pharisee. But he does like to give advice.
Acts 27: 9-12
Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
Paul says - hey we need to stop for awhile and wait this thing out or the sky will surely fall upon us. (Aren't you glad I'm not writing the bible :)). A prisoner is telling the crew what he thinks is best. Of course they ignore his warning and sail on and we see in the next section of verses - Paul is correct. A storm of hurricane winds blows up and they are raging at sea trying to keep the ship together. This goes on for 14 days - so there must have been some decent sailors on board. Paul pipes up and speaks his mind again during one of these days and says:
Acts 27:21-26
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.”
Sorry Paul I love you but this would just get under my skin - please don't I told you so to me. That's the thing about God that we forget. God is the best everything - teacher, lawyer, sailor, physician, maid, cook, parent, engineer, every profession. God knows every thing all the time, every where, for every one all at the same time. Paul shows us how to rely on God. I could use this analogy of going through storms we need to trust God. But from all I have studied in the Bible old and new testament alike it isn't the hard times we have trouble reaching out and calling on God. It's the good times, when all is well and happy. We tend to forget about God - we say I've got this all on my own. Paul where are you - come tell us - NO WAY. When we forget and stop being thankful and praising our God we can become lost and alone and find ourselves in a storm quicker than you can say Jehoshaphat.
Everyone is saved on this ship in Acts 27 - God is faithful and keeps his word. I can still close my eyes and see that seen from the Passion of the Christ where Jesus is beaten. What if Jesus changed his mind? What if he said this is too hard, too painful, you are asking too much? We would be lost at sea forever I'm afraid.
Thank you Lord - you sacrificed so much for us. I know I am unworthy and undeserving of this great mercy and grace. Pour into us a clean spirit, renew our minds and hearts to honor you and to thank you and be aware of you in all areas of our lives. May we bring you joy with our lives. Praise you Jesus. Amen
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
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