Acts 27:37 says, And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. We are told there were two hundred seventy-six souls on board the ship. We are not talking about just a small crew and a few passengers. We may sometimes feel that what we do for God is not that important, but Paul's listening to God led to the physical deliverance of two hundred seventy-six people. We may never know how many people are affected by our obedience to God, so we must always be ready to obey. Verse twenty-eight adds, And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea After they ate, they began to lighten the ship again. They cast the wheat into the sea. They had eaten enough and were close to shore, so they threw the food overboard. We may have to reach the very bottom of our material goods to believe in the word of God. When we cease to rely on our own abilities, we can finally begin to rely on God. Verse thirty-nine continues, And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. In the daylight, they still didn't see land, but they saw a creek with a shore that they thought they might sail into. They were still looking to save the ship. Verse forty states, And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. They raised the anchors, committed themselves to the sea, and hoisted the main sail and set toward shore. We need to learn that when God has told us something is going to be lost, we can quit trying to save it. Verse forty-one adds, And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. Where the two seas met, they ran the ship aground. The front stuck fast, but the back broke up from the violence of the waves. Paul had told them God had revealed to him that the ship would be lost, and it was. God's word is always reliable. We can never counteract it, nor could those sailors. Verse forty-two continues, And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. The soldiers were ready to accept Paul's word that they would find land, but not the part about no one losing his life. They still weren't totally accepting what Paul had said, because he had said no lives would be lost They were about to actively insure that was wrong. Even if we don't want to believe God's word, we better never be guilty of trying to prove Him wrong. We need to totally trust the word of God, not just the parts that benefit us personally. Verse forty-three says, But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: Fortunately, the Centurian, willing to save Paul, stopped them from killing the prisoners. Verse forty-four continues, And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. He told those who could swim to swim to shore. The others floated in on boards or broken pieces of the ship, and all were saved. We may not feel qualified to do what God asks, but we can be sure He will provide a way. If we cannot swim, He will give us a board, but His word can always be.
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