Day 290: Acts 27:9–12

But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said (v. 11).

We ordinarily think of the apostle Paul as deeply spiritual, but Acts 27 reminds us he also could be rather practical. He had spent much time on ships traveling the Mediterranean. Winter was approaching. In ancient days few vessels risked the sea during the winter months.

Although Paul was no expert seaman, he also wasn’t a man to keep his opinion to himself. He warned the pilot, the centurion, and the ship’s owner, “Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward damage and heavy loss” (Acts 27:10 hcsb). Can you picture this little bearded man licking the end of his index finger and holding it up to check the direction of the wind? Paul might have been perceived as a know-it-all at times. This was one of those times when someone probably should have listened.

The pilot and owner insisted on sailing regardless of difficulty. Like a plot from a disaster movie, they put profit above safety. They let their ledgers eclipse their good sense. The Alexandrian ship serviced Rome with expensive grain. They took advantage of the first gentle breeze and headed out, running a risk that would eventually catch them right between the eyes, driving them helter-skelter on the open seas.

This particular peril in the apostle’s life struck a chord in my heart for reasons I couldn’t quite identify at first. I finally realized why: he and the others met great difficulty because of someone else’s poor judgment.

I’ve gone through storms as a direct result of my own rebellion. I’ve also gone through storms as a result of spiritual warfare. Others were ordained directly by God for His glory. But sometimes the most difficult storms of all can be those that result from another person’s poor judgment. A wrong decision by a business partner, a boss, a driver, a jury, a teacher, a child, or a spouse can have devastating repercussions on other lives.

Of the four origins of personal storms I just identified, the one caused by someone else’s poor judgment has its own unique difficulty because we have someone else in flesh and blood to blame! We feel much greater potential for bitterness and unforgiveness. If you find yourself in that position, keep your eyes (as Paul did) on God’s greater purpose.