Acts 27:9-20 (NIV)
Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
It was now October and sailing on the treacherous Mediterranean had entered the season when even experienced sailors were reluctant to stray too far from land. God gave Paul insights on the dangers that awaited any ship foolish enough to venture out, and he delivered the message clearly and faithfully.
But, as often happens, God’s guidance went unheeded, and the ship’s owner, not wanting his cargo to sit in a port that was unsuitable to winter in, urged the captain to go ahead and sail the short distance to Phoenix. The centurion gave greater weight to the opinions of the owner and the experienced captain that to that of Paul, and the decision was made to sail.
Luke’s clear account details the tragedy of that ill-advised journey. A gentle south wind arose, perfect for sailing along the south and west edges of the island. So, they set sail at once. But they hadn’t gone far before the wind shifted to the northeast and increased greatly in speed and fury. The ship was driven before the wind far from Crete. Drastic measures were taken to try to protect the ship from being run aground on one of the small islands that dotted the area, or from simply being smashed to bits by the violent wind and waves.
The next day, they began to throw some of the cargo overboard in an effort to let the ship ride higher in the water and keep it from being swamped. But their efforts didn’t make much difference. A couple days later, they threw much of the ship’s heavy equipment overboard, but that didn’t have much of an effect either.
Eventually, the captain and crew lost track completely of where they were on the vast sea. Without the ability to see the moon or any stars through the thick clouds, they had no ability to get their bearings. And with the fierce wind still driving them forward, they had no ability to navigate. When there was no letup in the storm, the captain and crew gave up all hope and considered both the ship and themselves doomed.
Father, it seems to be part of our broken human nature to trust ourselves and our wisdom rather than You and Your guidance. And then, when our rebellion and self-assurance lands us in the very danger You tried to warn us away from, we cry out to You, pleading to be saved from the consequences of our own poor judgment. It is a powerful testimony to Your love and grace that You often do save us, despite the foolishness that got us into that situation in the first place. Help me, Lord, to always hear Your voice clearly, and to follow Your lead completely, so that I can have success in growing Your kingdom and not end up in disasters that derail my efforts and put all that You are trying to do in jeopardy. Amen.
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