Acts 27

I’m not a fan of traveling. I’m a homebody, and travel today is a lot easier than it was in Paul’s time. I hate being stuck in an airport for a few hours. Reading Acts 27, we learn that travel was much more dangerous and that the weather played a major role. Paul warns the ship’s officers that there’s going to be trouble:

‘“Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” ‘
Acts of the Apostles 27:10

But Paul was just some tentmaker; what did he know about sailing? The ship had 276 people on board; that’s a big ship. I asked Claude about the ship, and it says that it was about 180 feet long, 45 feet wide, and could carry 500 to 1000+ tons of cargo. I can’t imagine being on such a large boat, being tossed about by the incredible strength of the wind and waves. Yeah, that 4-hour layover in Chicago doesn’t seem so bad now.

But the officer in charge listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. They get caught up in a storm that rages for days. They are all distraught; they can’t eat, not knowing if they are going to live or if the next wave is going to send them to a watery grave. Then, starting in verse 21, Paul tells them they should have listened to him; he lets them know the ship is going down, but to take courage, an angel of God gave him a message,  none of them will die.

‘So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. ‘
Acts of the Apostles 27:25

This makes me wonder about the experts. Do you ever notice that the ones who have it all figured out are some of the most jacked-up people you ever meet? I’ve worked with some really smart people, but sometimes a person can have an advanced degree, and you wonder how they find their way to work in the morning. When I look at the “experts” who are in positions of influence or authority everywhere, it makes me ponder the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Here in the United States, the “experts” are said to be the 3rd leading cause of death.

Regardless of what storm we are going through, how we are being tossed about. Before we rush to the expert for advice, we should first turn to God. Remember, as Christ followers, God is with us. We need to pray and seek the Holy Spirit’s expert guidance. We need to pause, focus on our God, the giver of wisdom.

‘If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ‘
James 1:5