Throwing It All Overboard

Acts 27  

18  We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.

19  On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle with their own hands.

20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

22  [Paul said]”…I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.

23  Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and…serve stood beside me

24  and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul.  You must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ “

30  In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.

31  Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”

32  So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33  Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat, “For the last 14 days…you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything.”

35  …he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all…

36  They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.

38  When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

39  When daylight came…they saw a bay with a sandy beach…

40  Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea…

41  But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground.  The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

42  The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.

43  But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan…

44  …everyone reached land safely.

For the past 3 days, I’ve been following Paul’s harrowing journey at sea to Rome in my daily devotions.  God’s peace prevailed in Paul through the violent storm in such a way that he repeatedly encouraged and advised other passengers on the ship (v.22-24, 31, 33-34).  God’s favor rested on Paul, a prisoner, which even the centurion would listen to his instructions and move to protect his life (v.31, 43).  But what’s not so obvious is the loss of all material things to the sailors in this dangerous voyage here—cargo (v.18), ship’s tackle (v.19), lifeboat (v.32), grain/food (v.38), anchors (v.40), and finally the ship itself (v.41).  Trials tend to strip away everything we hold dear.  The sailors started out full of all the supplies and equipment needed to sail to Rome.  Now they were left empty, except for the promises of God spoken through Paul.  When we experience trials in life, ultimately, clinging to God and His Word, His character, and His relationship with us are what will carry us through.