When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.
33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
I was desperate. Panicking. Nearly hysterical. I was in the lake, out of my canoe. The Scout goal was to make a flotation device from your shirt by taking it off, tieing off the sleeves and neck opening, and capturing air in it. I had gotten my shirt half-way-off and it got stuck. I couldn’t breath through the water-soaked material. I was worried I was going to drown. A shot of adrenaline shot through my body and I pulled the shirt the rest of the way over my head. Such relief!
I was driving. On my way to meet a fellow pastor to pray and study together. I had counselled a woman from our church whose marriage was nearly failing. The situation was dire. As I drove, I prayed. And as I prayed, I felt more and more certain that God was hearing my prayer. I knew deep in my soul their marriage was going to be saved. I. Just. Knew. It. And it was.
The first situation described here is desperation. The second is desperation together with faith. Sometimes there is little difference between the two.
As the ship gets closer to land, desperation sets in on all sides. The sailors try to escape. The soldiers were going to kill the prisoners. The boat went aground. The bow got stuck. The stern was being broken up by the surf. Dire straits. All this on top of 14 days of relentless storms, sleepless nights, and no food. They are desperate.
I notice something about their actions. They throw the wheat into the sea. Why the wheat? What’s significant about that? First of all, it would be the last of the essential cargo of the ship, after they had already lightened the ship. Notice the word, “essential.” They realized they were in a struggle for survival.
I wonder, though, if it wasn’t also an act of faith. They not only knew they needed to lighten the ship. They also knew they wouldn’t need it any more. Perhaps there was a glimmer of hope in Paul’s promise: “not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” Sometimes we must grasp the tiniest straw to seek to be saved. And when it comes to God’s promises and his assurance that he will take care of us to the end, that tiny straw is strong enough to save – if we keep our eyes focused on the One who promised it.
God has promised we who believe in him, and who seek his kingdom first, that all things will be added to us. He will take care of us. So whether in times of desperation, or just in this moment of awareness, thank God for his daily provision. Thank, praise, serve, and obey him. For not only has he promised to take care of us, he does so every day.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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