THE LIVING CHURCH
Meditations in the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 27:27-32

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THE storm continues. Fourteen long days and nights the sailors struggle to keep the ship afloat. Fourteen days and nights the prisoners suffer, and the soldiers struggle. Trials and difficulties in life often seem like this. There seems no end to the trouble and suffering. Trials which God permits in the life of a Christian don’t necessarily end quickly. However they do end, just as this trial in the storm, which Paul experienced here. In fact Paul’s affliction had gone on for some time now, ever since he had been falsely accused by the Jews and found himself falsely imprisoned.

We learn also from this analogy of the storm at sea, that the end of difficulty in our lives does not necessarily come easily. Here the end was near for the inhabitants of the ship, but they still had to experience the shipwreck, and the terrifying struggle to get to the shore. What Paul knew is what every believer may be sure of. Paul knew that God was with him, and he was safe because the Lord Jesus was with on the ship. His faith took hold of this fact. This truth is illustrated for us in the Gospels. There was the incident where Jesus was with his disciples in the boat crossing Galilee in a terrible storm. Jesus was asleep, but the disciples were struggling to keep the boat afloat. What they did not realise was the fact that with Jesus with them in the boat, the boat could not sink, nor could their lives be lost. When Jesus had stilled the storm, he gently chides them for there lack of faith and understanding.

In verse 29 of the verses before us we read the sailors prayed for daylight. No doubt their prayer was not mixed with knowledge or real faith, but they prayed. They did a good thing and the best thing. They prayed to God for help. For the Christian, to pray is always the best thing to do, and is the constant life-line we have. Here is where we can off-load our burdens on the Lord, and leave our anxiety at the throne of grace. By prayer we place ourselves afresh in God’s hands, and his peace fills our hearts.

We are also told that the sailors prayed for day light. By this we see that they were afraid to act until they could see what to do. Again we have a vivid analogy for the spiritual life. It is always wise to wait until we can see rightly the way ahead, and what to do. It is always folly to act hastily. We need to be patient and seek God’s guidance before we act.

Next we read in verse 30 that some of the sailors began to take things into their own hands. They attempted to secretly get away from the ship in one of the lifeboats. We then read on to hear Paul telling the centurion that this action was dangerous and a mistake. Not only would the sailors be in danger for their lives, but the rest of the ships company also. The sailors were acting on impulse and with human wisdom, and they were acting selfishly. When we resort to our own wisdom in the Christian life we shall always put ourselves in danger, and may very well place others in danger too. The sailors were only safe if they remained in the ship, and the rest of the people on the ship would only be safe if the sailors remained with them. This may not have much human logic about it, but this was in fact the case.

Paul was speaking from God, and with the wisdom and guidance God had and was giving him. This is why his advice was the best and the safest to follow. We are brought back again to the importance of being in the will of God in our lives, and the importance of being guided by God in our lives. Discerning guidance may be difficult, but we may be sure that if we are determined to know the will of God for us and to act upon it, God will make sure he makes his purposes clear to us.

Lastly, let us notice the change of heart of the centurion and the soldiers. They acted on the words of Paul here, and before the sailors could get in to the boat, they cut the ropes, and let it float away, so preventing them making their escape. Back in verse 11 we read of the centurion listening to the human voice and wisdom, and the result was the terrible danger and loss of the storm. The centurion has learnt better now. He understands that Paul speaks the advice of God, and in this case believes it and follows it.

From this we learn that we are only safe and secure in the will and purpose of God. Disaster always comes to the believer when we stray from the path of God’s purpose for us. Jonah found this when he tried to escape from the purpose of God to preach the word of God to the people of Ninevah. Let us always be eager to know the will of God for us. Let us also, in faith, be obedient to it whatever the cost may seem to be. Only in the will of God are we safe and blest and fulfilled.