Smooth Sailing Through the Storm, Acts 27:26-44 (part 2)

Before we drop into our Scripture today, you might want to put on your rain gear and life vest, and if need be, take a sea sickness pill.

Okay, get your sea legs ready because here we go...

Each wave large enough to swallow us, toys with us, heaving us up, then crashing down, pounded by rain, driven by wind, out of control in the midst of the sea, in the midst of a storm.

A sea and a storm we should have never been in.  

But rather than listening to the man of God who heard from God, they followed the majority, they caved to those in authority (ship owner and captain), thus, they sowed to the wind and are reaping the whirlwind.

Their storm was in the Adriatic Sea. Ours may be the sea of regret, fear, or anger, or emotional trauma, or physical ailments, or bills, or pills, or booze, or bad habits, or choices, or... whatever the storm the results are the same, it leaves us reeling in body, soul and spirit.

But God spoke, “Let there be Light” when darkness covered the face of the deep.

But God pierced, the darkness of a virgin’s womb to birth the Light of the world.

But God sent, an angel into the midst of the storm and said, “indeed, all those who sail with you shall survive!” Acts 27:24.

Do you believe God can still speak and pierce the darkness with His Light into your storm?

Paul did.

So, take heart, said Paul, for I believe God, it will be just as He said! Acts 27:25.

26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.”

What? Wait. That’s not right. After all those wonderful words we expect the next line to be, and there was a great calm. Not “we must run aground.”

It ought to be like the day on the sea in the storm when Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves and said, “Peace be still.”

Nope, sorry, not this time.

This time the storm continued to rage. The ship heaved up and down, rising, then crashing, with every wave, and Paul said not “Peace be still” but “Hang on ya’ll we’re gonna wreck!”

In John 16:13, Jesus tells us His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will tell us of things to come. Then, in verse 33 He says, in this world you’ll have tribulation, like a shipwreck, but, He says, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.

He forewarns us, there’s going to be storms. Not to scare us, but prepare us. And to let us know, whether He calms the storm, or takes us through the storm, we might get wet, we might get sea sick, we might get shipwrecked, but if we stick with Jesus, we’ll come out victorious, on the other side.

27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.

Two weeks of pounding and churning, tossing and turning. Yet, even there, even then, when the Truth of God is spoken, it awakens the senses of those with ears to hear.

They heard “we must run aground on a certain island,” and the sailors senses were awakened, “that they were drawing near some land.”

28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.

The word for soundings means: to heave the lead.

NLT reads: They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.

Well, shiver me timbers, “Hey Popeye, you’re not gonna believe this, that preacher might’ve been right!”

29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.

It’s getting shallower, we’re heading toward land, fast. It’s too dark to see if the land is sand, or rocks.

Hit the breaks!

Drop the anchors!

Pray for daylight!

Ever been there?

Are you there now?

Drop anchor, hit your knees, and pray for daylight.

Lord, I don’t know what to do, can’t see which way to go, but I sense something is coming, fast. So, I’m stopping and dropping and staying right here, holding fast to You, the Anchor of my soul. I’m not moving until You give me some Light.

Psalm 119:105, Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Ephesians 1:18, I pray the eyes of your understanding are enlightened, that you know the hope of His calling.

30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,

Evidently the sailors did not trust God’s Word that they’d run aground and all survive. They leaned on their own understanding, fearing the ship would crash on the rocks and they’d all die.

So, for them it was every man for himself. Those foolish, selfish, cowardice sailors sought to abandon ship and leave the others to crash on the rocks and die.

But fortunately, they got busted.  

 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

Abandoning their post would’ve jeopardized everyone on the boat.

You, abandoning your post, responsibility, position, calling, jeopardizes everybody in your boat.

Notice, the soldiers, the owner, the captain, didn’t notice the sailors trying to flee.

But Paul did and sprang into action. He didn’t say, “it’s none of my business.” He knew it was everyone’s business. The sailors’ skills were still needed to maneuver the ship to shore.

The soldiers heeded Paul’s warning and stopped the sleezy sailors by cutting away the skiff. (Maybe not the greatest idea, since the skiff may have been useful later, but they were soldiers, not sailors, they did what they could in the moment).

Let’s learn a lesson from the sleezy sailors; they are a great example of what not to do.

1)    Saving Faith Is Not, Every Man for Himself.

Saving Faith is selfless.

Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Saving Faith is not simply a personal skiff to escape crashing on the rocks of hell.

Saving Faith is accompanied by corresponding works, reflecting repentance, God’s love, prayer, and ongoing obedience. Without which is not saving faith at all, but fatal presumption.  

Faith without works is dead. James 2:17, 20, 24, 26.

2)    Abandoning Ship Is Not an Option.

Luke 9:62, No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:38, “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

Galatians 5:9, a little leaven, leavens the whole lump.

Loose lips sink ships. A little sin, like a little leak, can sink a big ship.

Dear Lord, please keep us from the selfish behavior of abandoning ship, leaving those that could’ve been saved, to crash upon the rocks of hell. Instead, Lord, please use whatever You’ve given us, to bring all those sailing with us, safely to Your shore.

33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.”

Friends, you must eat, you need strength to survive.  

35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.

He gave thanks in the midst of the storm and led by example.

36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.

This time Paul encouraged them with more than just words. He not only tends to their fears, but their physical needs as well. As James 2:16 tells us; don’t just say, be ye warmed and fed, but give those things that are needful.

You need to eat, we’ll run aground just as the Lord said, and you’ll need your strength to get from ship to shore.

So, they ate and were strengthened and encouraged.

Which is exactly what the Word of God does.

That’s why this we simply preach and teach the Word of God. Book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse.

The Word of God is food for body, soul and spirit. The Word of God builds spiritual muscles, sheds Light on sin, provides wisdom, discernment, direction and peace. The Word of God  fills us with hope and opens our heart and mind to the goodness, and character and Love of our Lord and Savior.  

  Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Yesterday our SALT meeting guest speaker was Dr. Jimmy Sclater, Mental Health Counselor and Community Outreach Liaison for Synergy Health Group.

He did an awesome job. Although a professing agnostic, it was amazing to hear how the mainstream secular mental health program is patterned after what’s already been prescribed in the Bible for everyday Christian living.

You hold in your hands the Master Plan to peace that passes understanding and power and love and a sound mind. They go to college, and spend 100,000 dollars, to learn the same principles, without the Power that makes it all work. They practice a form of godliness, without the Power thereof.

One of his favorite quotes “by some philosopher” was something like: Love is helping another without expecting anything for yourself in return.

Jesus said it like this:

John 15:13, Greater love has no man than this than he lay down his life for his friends.

He also explained that mental health is measured in the moment, right now, not the past or future. Do not dwell in the past, it’s over.

Philippians 3:13-14 says it like this: 

This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (he didn’t include the next verse) ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

He quoted by name Isaiah 6:8, Here I am, send me, saying we should volunteer to help the needy.

He didn’t mention one of the best prescriptions for peace of mind in the Bible:

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

But my opening prayer included it.

They don't even know it but much of their secular mental health counseling is patterned after the Bible.

All the sciences, all the ologies, psychology, geology, biology, geography, if they are honest, eventually catch up to the Bible, the Word of God.

After 40 days of fasting what did Jesus use for strength when tempted by the devil?

His body weary, His stomach empty, but He was strong and full on the Word of God.

You’re hungry, turn the stones to bread.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

If You’re the Son of God, jump off the temple and prove it.

Thou shall not put the Lord thy God to a foolish test.

I’ll give you all the kingdoms of the world, if you’ll just bow down and worship me.

GET BEHIND ME YOU SLIMY SERPENT, THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE!!!!!

Matthew 4:1-11.

You dear child of God will weather any storm if nourished and strengthened by the Word of God.

However, we cannot stay the course, fulfill our mission, stand our position, complete our calling, in storm or calm, unless we are feeding on the Word of God.

39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

Had it not been for God protecting Paul, this would’ve been a deadly trip. The ship probably would’ve sunk by now, if not, at this point the sea would be red with the blood of the prisoners.

Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the Lord He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

The ship that held together to save them over the sea, now breaks apart to save them, some on boards and some on parts.

So it was, they all escaped safely to land, just as was spoken by the Word of the Lord. Indeed, all those who sail with you shall be saved! Acts 27:24.

Have you ever been there?

Have you ever gone through a storm that you never should’ve made it through?

Are you a survivor? Are you one of those who can say, "I should be dead right now"?

You might be a survivor and not even know it. That delay, that irritatingly slow driver, might’ve saved your life.

We may not know this side of heaven, how or why we survived.

These men on this ship survived by the hand of God, protecting them, for the sake of Paul.

There's a reason you're still breathin'.

So, how about we get serious about living? Let’s stop wasting time, making excuses, just going through the motions.

When you look your Maker in the eye, don’t you want to know you left it all on the field?

No more lukewarm. Let's make a difference for Jesus. From this moment, let’s make every moment count.

Let's be the reason folks in our boat are saved.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, from here on out, we’re all in. We’re committed to serving You, and loving You, and honoring You, in everything we say and do, and think.

But Lord, You know we’re going to need a lot of help. Please help us to never abandon ship, help us to love You and love others so much that You can use us to be soul winners and disciple makers, so our ship is full, and all who sail with us, are saved.

Thank You, we love You, forever.

Amen.  

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Thank you for sharing.

God will Surely Visit You, Genesis 50

 

Today, we come to the end of the book of beginnings.

What began with light and life ends with back to back funerals.

What began with an eviction from the Garden of Eden ends with a promise to the land flowing with milk and honey.

Lord, what does this mean?

What are You trying to teach us?

Genesis 50:1

 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him, and kissed him.

Joseph is 56 years old.

He was 17 when sold into slavery. He lived 22 years in Egypt before his family joined him. His father, Jacob, lived 17 more years before dying at 147.  

Of all the brothers, Joseph had the least amount of time with his father, yet, look how he loved him. Surely the others were there, surely, they too loved their father, but Joseph is the only one mentioned, and Joseph is the only brother mentioned in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith.

The depth of Love isn’t measured by quantity, but quality.  

2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

Why are we more consumed with preserving the body than the soul?

This was a great tribute to Jacob, especially since he was a shepherd, which was a despised occupation in Egypt.

He was probably known as the father of Joseph, the man who interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and saved the world from famine.

Joseph had his father embalmed not only because it was a customary honor in Egypt, but because he was to be carried to Canaan, which would take a lot of time and this would preserve the body.

The mourning lasted 70 days. Just two days shy of that for Pharaohs.

Egyptians mastered the are of embalming.

This is kinda gross, so read at your own risk:

They’d pull the brain out through the nose. Cut open the left side and take out the organs and preserve everything but the kidneys. They left the heart intact without removing. The cavity would be rinsed with an antiseptic of palm, wine and cedar oil, then packed with cloth soaked in sweet smelling myrrh and cinnamon.

Then they’d soak the body for 30 days, in natron powder, basically baking soda and salt.

Then, they’d encase the body in cloth soaked in a lime compound.

Finally, the body would be placed in a wooden airtight coffin that conformed to the body. A Pharaoh’s would be in gold.

This process preserved bodies, even to this day.

4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,

Why’d Joseph speak to Pharaoh’s household instead of directly to Pharaoh?

It might have been due to protocol while Joseph was in mourning. Or, maybe, Joe didn’t have as much favor as he once did with Pharaoh.

Seventeen years earlier, in the thick of the famine, Joseph was like a superhero, in Genesis 47, he went to Pharaoh directly and introduced five of his brothers and his father.

But now the famine’s been over for a dozen years. Joseph’s usefulness isn’t as urgent or necessary. Joseph’s family is growing, and gobbling, up the beautiful land of Goshen.

Now, rather than going straight to Pharaoh, he speaks to his household.

5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’ ”

6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.

It appears Jacob was popular among the poor folks and old folks.

The servants (ebed: servant, slave, bondservant).

The elders might refer to officers in the land, however the literal translation is: elders zaqen; old, elder, aged. Look it up, there’s a picture of a snowbird 😉.

He was old and nearly blind but imagine the stories he could tell.

·       Wearing wool pretending to be his hairy brother.

·       Then, fleeing for his life because of it.

·       The stairway to heaven dream, with angels ascending and descending and God speaking to him from the top.

·       Waking after his wedding married to the wrong woman.

·       His sheep breeding process with sticks in watering troughs making the healthiest, black and white spotted sheep still raised today, called Jacob Sheep.

·       The reason for his limp was an old injury, from his wrestling match with God.

·       Then, oh boy, the stories he could tell, about his boys...

So, off they went. From Egypt to Hebron, a journey of over 300 miles, they packed up and headed out. Old folks and poor folks, along with the mighty Pharaoh’s horsemen and chariots; Jacob’s great funeral procession, leaving only the little ones and livestock.

Did Jacob’s latter years, while humble, weak and almost blind, have more of an impact than his formidable years full of strength and conniving?

Although far from the Promise given him by God, he embraced it and received it by faith (Hebrews 11:13), and pointed his family to it, settling them in the unlikely incubator of Egypt, where they would grow into the mighty nation of Israel, that would give us, our Savior.  

 No matter where we’ve come from, or what we’ve done, Lord here and now, we vow, to make our latter days greater than our former. Not by mighty escalades and deeds to be seen by men, but by faithfully pointing everyone You send us, straight to You.

10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, (êbel: mourning; Mizraim: Egypt,) which is beyond the Jordan.

Now they’re getting close to the grave.

The times of somber silence during the seventy days of mourning are over. Now, the floodgates open. Quiet tears turn to, uncontained mourning, uncontrollable sobs, unconsolable grief.

Like when the reverence in the funeral parlor turns to weeping and wailing when the casket is about to be lowered into the grave.

12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. 13 For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.

Together, Jacob’s sons buried their father.

How good and pleasant it is when families unite during times of mourning.

Too often instead they fight.

Lord, we pray that we, Your family, will not sorrow like those who have no hope (1 Thes. 4:13). Let us weep, yes, weep indeed, for we will miss them, but let there be Easter in our tears. Knowing that in You, this is not the end, in You, death is just the doorway, to the beginning.   

14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.

Notice the spotlight remains on Joseph. Although the eleventh son, he had the mantel of the firstborn, the leadership role as head of the household.

With God promotion comes not from the north or the south, the east or the west, or birth order, or gifts and talents, but God establishes one and puts down another. Psalm 75:6-7.

Notice something else that begs a question.

They returned to Egypt.

Why? The famine was over a dozen years ago. We’re back in the land. Our land. The land God promised.

What are you waiting for God? Give us our land flowing with milk and honey.

Why’d the return to Egypt?

The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible and God told Abraham, that his descendants would be in a foreign land for 400 years (they were Abe’s descendants in a foreign land, but they’d only been there for 17 years, so they had a ways to go), and then, they’d return, for the iniquity of Amorites is not yet full, Genesis 15:16.

The sins of the Amorites hadn’t reached the tipping point, yet.

Yeah, but God, we don’t care about the sins of sinners. You promised us the land, why wait for them to sin some more? Just boot ‘em out, or knock ‘em off.

Ezekiel 33:11, God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live.

2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, but patient, not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance.

However, iniquity does not go unnoticed or unmeasured forever. When the cup of iniquity is full, God’s patience ends, and His wrath begins.

Jesus had enough when He rebuked the overflowing never ending sins of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. (Verdict: Guilty) ³³ Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? (Judgement: hell). ³⁴ Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:32-36.

It’s so very dangerous to become numb to iniquity.

Lord, please don’t allow us to become desensitized to evil, keep our hearts tender toward You.

God knew in 400 years the iniquity of the Amorites would be full. He knew it would happen; He did not make it happen.  

So, in the meantime, God had the Israelites grow in the incubator of Egypt, so they’d be ready when the time came to inhabit the Promise Land.

Interesting parallel. America has been an incubator for Israel. Approximately 45% of the world’s Jewish population lives in US. (7.2 million in Israel, 6.3 million in US).

Just think, perhaps, today, somewhere in the Jewish population are a 144,000, who will during the seven-year tribulation, accept Jesus as Messiah, and be sealed and protected and used by God as evangelists to lead to Christ a great multitude from every tribe, tongue and nation. Revelation 7:9.

Also note the 400 year clock. It’s been some 400 years since the Mayflower Compact was signed. It was a covenant committing the governance of this land and people to God.

God takes covenants seriously.

Why do we mention it?

Because Genesis is not only the book of beginnings, but the seedbed for all that follows. It not only tells what did happen, but is a foreshadow of what will happen.

How long before the iniquity of this world’s sin overflows?

How full is the iniquity of the Americanites?

How long before God says to the earth, as He said to Egypt, “Let My people go.”

How long before God’s seven year cup of wrath is poured out on the planet?

Speaking of wrath...

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.”

It’s been 39 years since they sold Joseph into slavery.

Revenge was the furthest thing from Joseph’s mind. He’d forgiven and all but forgotten what they’d done.

Obviously, they didn’t. They had irrational fear. They needed the love that 1 John 4:18 talks about. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."    

The inward effects of sin remain long after the outward circumstances have long since vanished.

Flee from sin, all of it. It’s a putrid poison. Even after repenting and being forgiven, it’s haunting memory can plague the soul.

Lord help us to love as You love, and  forgive and be forgiven.

16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

In other words, in our language, they sent Joe a text message.

We do the same. Difficult situation, hard topic, don’t speak face to face—just send them a text.

Nevertheless, Joseph understood it was their way of saying, “we were wrong, we’re sorry, please forgive us.”

Even though they probably lied in doing it. The part about their dad commanding them was probably fiction.

After all Joseph had been through, his heart was still tender enough to weep for them.

A sure sign of moral integrity and strength.

Lord, make our hearts tender enough to weep for others.

18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

Like the prodigal’s son.

Like us, when we feel we’ve blown it one too many times. “I’m not worthy to be your son, make me as one of your hired servants.”

But our Father says, “Put a ring on his finger, and a robe on his back and kill that fatted calf. My son was dead, but now he’s alive!”

19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

He spoke the Truth in Love. What you did was bad.

But, God weaves His wonderful ways through the wicked ways of man. He worked all things together for good, to save many people alive, and Romans 8:28, hadn’t even been written yet.

Joseph’s comfort and kindness are our example. Don’t worry, you’re forgiven, I love you, we’re family.

22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years.

Joseph lived another 54 years after Jacob’s death.

23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.

Joseph lived to see his great great grandkids from Ephraim, and his great grandkids from Manasseh.  

24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

 What began with light and life ends with back to back funerals.

What began with an eviction from the Garden of Eden ends with a promise to the land flowing with milk and honey.

Jacob said, “I’m to be gathered to my people,” Genesis 49:29. (You’ll have a funeral—I’ll have a family reunion).

Joseph says twice, God will surely visit you and bring you out, and in, to the Promise Land.

These words from Joseph landed him in the Hall of Faith:  By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. Hebrews 11:23.

Dear family of God, Egypt is not our home. This world is not your home. However, until the iniquity of the world is full, and He pulls us to the Promise Land we must stay in Egypt, stay in this world, stay in the fight, stay the course, making a difference like Joseph and Jacob, pointing as many as we can, to the Promise Land.

Let’s pray.

Lord, what You started with light and life, we messed up, were wrong, we’re sorry, please forgive us. Thank You for coming to us, weeping for us, becoming the Way to be restored to You. Thank You for Your promise to visit us and bring us Home.

Until then, please help us to help all those You’ve given us, to follow hard after You.

Thank You.

We love and trust You, forever.

Amen.

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Smooth Sailing Through the Storm, Acts 27:1-25

 

And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.

Notice, when the decision was made for them to go, they didn’t have a voice in the matter. Often in the governments of men, those that make decisions aren’t the best decision makers.

It was not a wise decision to start a 2,000 mile voyage at the beginning of typhoon season, unless they wanted the voyage to fail.

Whatever the case the decision was made, and they loaded Paul and prisoners aboard a ship from the seaport city of Adramyttium.

This was no luxury Carnival Cruise Liner. They were probably packed like cattle into the cargo bay used for grain.

Paul had a couple of longtime friends with him, Aristarchus was one, and we know by use of the word “we” that Luke was also along for the ride.

So, whether they like it or not, off they go toward Rome. Stuck on a boat full of strangers, many probably dangerous prisoners headed to the Gladiator rings of Rome.

Ever been there? Stuck. Like a prisoner in a place, you don’t want to be, on a journey you don’t want to take.

Are you there now? Stuck. Doing what you don’t want to do. In a world you don’t like, with a life you wish you could rewrite.

Well hold on, don’t abandon ship just yet.

3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.

The first leg of their journey was north, up the coast about 70 miles from Caesarea to Sidon.

Governor Festus may have told Julius to give Paul liberty, since Paul was a freeborn Roman Citizen, yet to be convicted of any crime. Festus and King Agrippa both agreed that Paul could be set free if only he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.

Most importantly, God was with him.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7. 

4 When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

It was fall in the Mediterranean, when winds are primarily from the west.

They wanted to sail west, but couldn’t sail against the wind, (like vessels today) so they headed north, and then hugged the coast and tacked westward.

See, the timing of the trip wasn’t such a great decision.

5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

Sidon to Myra, was about 500 miles.

These are the very places Paul had sailed and preached in his prior missionary journeys.

Now, he’s passing through as a prisoner.

Ever been there? The old stomping grounds from the good ol’ days. But you can’t go back, and you can’t stay, because of these chains binding you to your present life of prison.

Are you there now? Reminiscing over yesterday, imprisoned by today. 

Well hold on, don’t abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over.

6 There (at Myra) the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.

They switched ships.

An Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy would have been a cargo ship hauling grain (probably wheat) from Egypt to Italy.

A ship like this at that time is said to have been about 140 feet long and 36 feet wide. It would have one mast with a big square sail, perhaps a smaller foresail, and instead of a single rudder, it steered with two large paddles on the stern.

They were strong and sturdy; but couldn’t tack into the wind at all.

We’re told in verse 37 that there were 276 people onboard this ship.

7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus...

Myra to Cnidus was about 130 miles. The average sailing speed was about 5-7 miles per hour, but since they were bucking the wind, it was likely less than that.

So, they’re stuck on a ship with hundreds of strangers, barely moving forward, the days are getting colder, and the wind is getting stronger, but at least they’re headed in the right direction.

Well, until...

⁷ ...the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. 8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

Cnidus to Fair Havens was about 210 miles.  

Their westward progress was blown south until they could turn west on the sheltered south side of the island of Crete.

Ever been there? Things weren’t great, but at least you were headed the right direction—until everything went south.

Are you there now? You were staying the course, until you got blown off course, now you’re further from shore than you were before.

Well hold on, don’t abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever. 

9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over...

The Fast refers to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which is in September or October each year. It was Oct. 5^th in AD 59; the year this voyage is said to have taken place. 

Like a shorter version of our hurricane season, their dangerous season for sailing the Mediterranean was from the middle of September to mid-November. After that it got worse, and all open sea travel came to an end until winter was over.

So, they were smack dab in the middle of typhoon season.

9 ... 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.”

Up to this point we haven’t heard a peep from Paul. But now, he has something to say because he sees they are about to make a big mistake.

Paul’s no landlubber, he’s logged some 3,500 miles by sea, and according to 2 Corinthians 11:25, he already has three shipwrecks under his belt.

So, whether by natural experience or Supernatural prompting, he speaks up and offers unsolicited advice. We need to hole up here for the winter, or it’s not going to turn out so good.

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.

What would you do?

The owner of the ship and the captain say, let’s go.

Plus, Fair Havens was a fair haven, in name only. It was not a good place to winter.  But just 40 miles west on the same island was the nice, big, beautiful, fun-filled harbor of Phoenix.

The majority said let’s go there.

So, Paul was overruled.

Ever been there? When you finally step out and speak up, you’re shut down, ignored.

Are you there now? You’ve given good advice. But they just won’t listen. So now you’re stuck with them, suffering for their bad decisions.

Well hold on, don’t abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever, the wrong shall fail, the Truth prevail.

13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.

See Paul, relax, feel that soft southern breeze.

Yo mon every-ting gonna be alright. 

14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.

Literally says:

It was not long before a typhonikos (like typhoon) called Euroclydon (east-north-east wind, a levanter, a nor’easter) swept down on us.

Euroclydon: from Euros (the east wind) and kludon; (a storm from the east).

15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.

Try as they may, they couldn’t follow the shoreline northwest but instead were blown with the wind southwest.

The skiff (dinghy) was normally towed behind, but it’d be capsized and destroyed in this weather, so they pulled her aboard. Which was a chore in good weather, but in pounding wind and waves and rain, it had to be nearly impossible. 

Notice Luke writes, “we” let her drive, and “we” secured the skiff.

In the midst of a storm, it’s all hands on deck.

Dear family, the Captain of our Salvation calls, “All hands on deck!”

The world’s in storm about to wreck, “All hands on deck!”

No playing Jonah, “All hands on deck!”

Dear Church, if ever was a time, it’s now, “All hands on deck!”

17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.

Struck sail?

“struck” chalaó: to let down, lower, slacken.

“sail” skeuos: vessel, implement, container, instrument.  (not normal word for a sail)

NLT reads: Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.

They feared they’d be blown south onto the treacherous sandbars of Syrtis. So they lowered the sea anchor (a large parachute like instrument to drag in the water to slow the ship).

They don’t know it yet, but, perhaps by Providence, they were blown not south but west-northwest, to exactly where they needed to be.

Ever been there?

Are you still? Just holding on for dear life, not living, just existing, just trying to survive.

Well hold on, don’t abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever, the wrong shall fail, the Truth prevail, and soon you’ll see the hand of Providence has always been with you.

18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.

NASB reads: The next day as we were being violently tossed by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo.

They lightened the ship; ekbolé: casting out, expulsion, jettison. Meaning a throwing out of cargo to lighten a ship. (Perhaps, throwing out, and throwing up).

20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

They navigated by the sky, the sun, the stars. But none appeared for several days. All direction, all hope, was lost.

Ever been there?

Are you still?

No direction. You’re driving blind. You don’t know where you’re at or where you’re going.

There’s no help in sight.

All you know for sure is that you’re lost, without hope.

Well hold on, don’t abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever, the wrong shall fail, the Truth prevail, and soon you’ll see the hand of Providence has always been with you. He who calms the storm is with you through the storm

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.

On a rare occasion, speaking the Truth in Love might sound a whole lot like, “I told you so.”

This is one of those times.

But it can’t stop there. It must be followed quickly with encouragement and hope.

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.

You should’ve listened, but that’s over and done, now cheer up, we’re all going to get through this.

How do I know? Because God said He’s got plans for me in Rome. As for you, God is good and has granted safety to all those who sail with me.

God's plan for you, affects those around you. 

God’s Word is always fulfilled, His plans never fail.

Dear family, no matter what storm you’re blowing through, hold on. Don’t abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever, the wrong shall fail, the Truth prevail, and soon you’ll see the hand of Providence has always been with you. He who calms the storm is with you through the storm, God has a way of smooth sailing, even in the storm.

I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

Let’s pray.

Lord, we ask You to open our eyes, our hearts, to see and know, You stand with us, even here, even now, especially in and through, the storm.

We choose to believe You and trust You and praise You, in calm or storm, in peace or war, in safety or danger.,

We thank You, for granting that of all those who sail with us, none will be lost.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: Smooth Sailing Through the Storm, Acts 27:1-25

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.