Acts 27 tells a fascinating story about Paul and his companions being on a ship during the midst of a tremendous storm. Paul had warned the captain of the ship not to sail because it was winter and the sea was not fit for sailing. While trying to make it down the shoreline some 40 miles to a harbor safe for staying the winter the ship is blown out to sea.
The sailors are not able to control the ship and must give in to the tempestuous wind. The ship will be tossed to and fro for days on end. They are not able to even see the sun and stars. They have to jettison much of the cargo and go for fourteen days without eating food. The 276 persons on board begin to give up hope of ever being saved.
It was at this low morale juncture that an angel of the Lord came to Paul in the night and spoke to him. He told him that Paul would testify before Caesar and everyone on the ship would be sparred, if they stayed on the ship. Paul then encourages them to “take heart, men, for I have faith in God” (Acts 27:25). They will eventually crash into the reef and land on the island of Malta.
I did some research on this area. The Mediterranean Sea has a surface area of 970,000 square miles. The tiny island of Malta is only 17 miles long by 9 miles wide. That is a surface area of 95 square miles. The island of Malta is 0.00979% of the entire sea. It is literally just a little dot in the scope of the entire sea. They had no control of the vessel and sailed for 14 days covering over 500 miles to sail from Crete to Malta. They were caught up in the storm not knowing where they were or when it would end. They were cloaked in a cover of darkness. Yet God could see the entire sea. God was not in the midst of the storm, He was far above the storm. He guided the ship to this little island just as he planned and promised.
How many times in our own lives do we need to remember this story? We may not can see ahead or behind because of the darkness of the storm that surrounds us, but we trust in the One who sees and knows all! He will guide us safely through the storm to His intended destination.
