Headwinds
Day 529, Thursday, Jan. 22
Acts 27:1-26
Up until now the challenges Paul has faced have been mainly from Jews who oppose his message about the messiah. Now it seems even the weather is working against him as he is sent to Rome by ship.
Even in our day ships are at the mercy of the weather, but in the days of wooden sailing ships the danger was even greater. Paul and other prisoners are put aboard a ship that sets sail shortly before rough winter weather makes the journey to Italy too hazardous. Against Paul’s urging, the pilot and the owner of the ship make the decision to try to reach Phoenix, a harbor town on the southern coast of Crete, and ride out winter there.
The weather doesn’t cooperate, and they are forced to let the ship be driven along by wind and sea. Cargo and tackle are thrown overboard in an effort to make the ship ride higher in the water.
We remember the time that Jonah, facing a great storm, spoke to his shipmates and admitted to them that he was the source of their peril. The story is different here in that Paul speaks to his shipmates to tell them that his presence will save them. He told them that an angel had appeared to him 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.” While God will save the people on board, the ship itself will run aground and be destroyed.
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Thursday meditation
Psalms 68:15-27
Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain, why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever? The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious—that you, Lord God, might dwell there.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea, that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”
Your procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels. Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel. There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
Prayer focus
We trust, God, that you will protect us in the storms of life, even when you do not protect us from those storms.