"He's Large and In Charge!"

Scripture Passage

Acts 27:1-44

Scripture Focus

“Men, you should have listened to me in the first place…”
                                               (Acts 27:21 NLT)

Observation

Don’t you hate it when you offer good counsel that is completely and utterly ignored? Me, too. Surely if I’ve offered the advice, it ought to be followed, right? “In my former life,” someone said, “I must have been a king, because I like it when people do what I say!” And as I’ve been known to say, “When people get to where they ought to be, they end up where I’ve been all along!”

I’m thinking, today, of what my attitude should be and what course of action I should take when my “good counsel” is ignored. That doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. So it’s interesting to read about these circumstances where Paul’s counsel to wait until spring to continue on this journey to Rome was summarily dismissed as the wrong course of action.

It must have been tough for a person so used to being “in charge” to be so completely subject to the decisions of others. It must have been difficult for Paul to see his advice disregarded. And I suppose the Scriptures don’t specifically say what Paul’s attitude was, but I don’t imagine that he went off to his corner of the ship to sulk. It’s more likely—especially based on what happens next—that Paul devoted a good bit of available time to seeking God. Because after several days of wind-tossed sailing, Paul is able to affirm that the crew should have listened, but is also able to share God’s promise…

“None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night, an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me…” (Acts 27:22-23 NLT)

I want to write, “I love it when a plan comes together!” But it wasn’t a plan—at least, it wasn’t Paul’s plan. And perhaps it wasn't even God’s plan that the ship try to make the journey before winter. God’s will is not always done “on earth as it is in heaven.” Perhaps God’s will was not done here when Paul’s ship left Fair Havens (v. 8) against his advice. But that’s how “big” God is…how powerful our Sovereign Lord…that—ultimately—He “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11 NIV).

So…what’s a fellow to do when his good counsel is ignored and there’s nothing to be done about it? “Steady as she goes, mate! Hold your course.” God remains large and in charge at the helm of the ship—His ways in all your days can be trusted.

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