Leviticus 21-23, Psalm 45, Matthew 20:17-34, Acts 27:27-44

Acts 27:27-44:

In this way everyone reached land safely. But what a way! Wet, swimming, clinging to pieces of wood of the wrecked ship. All were saved, as God had told Paul, without loss of life—but still with considerable difficulty, alarm, apparent danger, presumable fear, and trauma. What can we learn from this rescue?

First, the continued practicality and calmness of Paul. Despite everyone else apparently about to lose their minds with anxiety, it was Paul who kept his cool, managed to give practical salient advice, and pointed all to safety. Let us prepare our minds for action, store up residues of fortitude from God’s Word, so that when the day of trial comes, we will be able to stand.

Second, the trustworthiness of God’s promises. God had promised that everyone would be safe, and safe they were. There must have been times when they wondered whether they would survive. But survive they did. Even if the circumstances look unprepossessing, we can still trust that God’s promises trump human circumstances.

Third, the apparent difficulty of the rescue. This was no easy moment of delivery but one of great difficulty and hassle. There was even a real chance that the soldiers would kill all the prisoners before the centurion intervened. Don’t be disturbed by the trauma of your circumstances as if they undermine God’s promises of your salvation. Even in the darkest night, the dawn of the sun is about to rise.