It was determined by the experts that the boat was, without a doubt, going to sink.
The voyage had begun rather innocuously. Fair winds had caught the sails. The ship had been hired to carry cargo for the merchants and a wide variety of passengers at the behest of the government. It eased out of the harbor and into the open sea where it was headed on a routine line to its destination.
Then disaster struck. The first indication was when the winds changed. They not only began to blow differently but also...much harder. The sailors and navigators realized that this was not just a simple storm. It was a cyclone called Euroclydon (Northeaster) which had a known pattern--and history of violence.
What could they do? They tried everything sailors know to do but then realized they would have to let the storm carry the boat where it wanted. Then things got worse. The storm continued to rage. Many days passed without the sun and many nights without the stars. Yet the storm continued.
They lightened the ship by throwing the cargo overboard--so much for the guaranteed two-week delivery service. Then most of the food was also thrown overboard. This was practical from two standpoints: it made the ship lighter, and nobody was eating anything anyway.
After two solid weeks, the captain, the navigators, and the crew determined that all hope was lost. In the midst of this turmoil, anxiety, and despair, a prisoner of the government spoke out and had the audacity to say, "I told you so."
Seriously, that's what Paul said in Acts 27. "You should have listened to me when I warned you against taking this voyage." Nobody appreciates being told, "I told you so." But when God's servant speaks, the statement does not end there.
Paul continued by telling them to cheer up. "The God whom I serve and whose I am sent an angel this night to tell me (to remind him, really) that I must appear before Caesar." If you recall, we looked at that same promise that Jesus had given Paul way back shortly after he was arrested in Jerusalem. That was why Paul had not despaired.
God had not changed his mind about Paul because of Paul's circumstances. Nor had God allowed the poor (and even disobedient) decisions of others to alter His plan. When God says, "You're going to Rome," you are going to Rome. Count on it. Depend on it.
#meditations,#walkwithgod
The voyage had begun rather innocuously. Fair winds had caught the sails. The ship had been hired to carry cargo for the merchants and a wide variety of passengers at the behest of the government. It eased out of the harbor and into the open sea where it was headed on a routine line to its destination.
Then disaster struck. The first indication was when the winds changed. They not only began to blow differently but also...much harder. The sailors and navigators realized that this was not just a simple storm. It was a cyclone called Euroclydon (Northeaster) which had a known pattern--and history of violence.
What could they do? They tried everything sailors know to do but then realized they would have to let the storm carry the boat where it wanted. Then things got worse. The storm continued to rage. Many days passed without the sun and many nights without the stars. Yet the storm continued.
They lightened the ship by throwing the cargo overboard--so much for the guaranteed two-week delivery service. Then most of the food was also thrown overboard. This was practical from two standpoints: it made the ship lighter, and nobody was eating anything anyway.
After two solid weeks, the captain, the navigators, and the crew determined that all hope was lost. In the midst of this turmoil, anxiety, and despair, a prisoner of the government spoke out and had the audacity to say, "I told you so."
Seriously, that's what Paul said in Acts 27. "You should have listened to me when I warned you against taking this voyage." Nobody appreciates being told, "I told you so." But when God's servant speaks, the statement does not end there.
Paul continued by telling them to cheer up. "The God whom I serve and whose I am sent an angel this night to tell me (to remind him, really) that I must appear before Caesar." If you recall, we looked at that same promise that Jesus had given Paul way back shortly after he was arrested in Jerusalem. That was why Paul had not despaired.
God had not changed his mind about Paul because of Paul's circumstances. Nor had God allowed the poor (and even disobedient) decisions of others to alter His plan. When God says, "You're going to Rome," you are going to Rome. Count on it. Depend on it.
#meditations,#walkwithgod
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