09/06/2023
Amen
Make an Alliance with God
As the storm got progressively more severe, the crew tried to outrun it. The ship and cargo suffered a lot of damage, loss, and eventually the crew gave up all hope. But because Paul had made an alliance with God, He sent a message to Paul with the directions the men needed to survive the storm.
Paul knew that God is an ally that we simply can’t do without in facing our storms, because our victory comes from Him! Indeed, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
It does not matter what the storm looks like, what type of storm it is, or where it came from. When we make an alliance with God, we will survive the storm.
Don’t Break the Alliance
This winter storm, The Northeaster, was known by all sailors at that time. It was a regular event in that area which was deadly to any ship caught by it. The sailors, guards and prisoners must have been filled with fear and dread.
For fourteen days everyone was throwing cargo overboard, bailing water and fighting to stay upright and alive. And yet, nothing they did seemed to help them get through this storm.
So often when we put our faith in God and make an alliance in the midst of a storm, if things don’t change quickly, our tendency is to break the alliance and try doing it our way. We think:
- God, I gave you a chance, but You didn’t come through.
- God, I put my trust in You, but things are not working out.
- God, things have not gotten better…they have gotten worse!
Even Paul must have been thinking, God, do something! However, nothing changed. Day after day, the storm raged stronger and the temptation to break the alliance set in.
Then God showed up strong on behalf of Paul:
“After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: ‘Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost.
PG
