Day 292: Acts 27:27–44

The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim off and escape. But the centurion kept them from [it] because he wanted to save Paul(vv. 42–43).

Let’s allow God to open our eyes to the importance of faithfulness and obedience through a study in contrasts, by seeing that the umbrella of protection or destruction in one man’s hand can often cover many heads. The kind of cover these figurative umbrellas provide is not only determined by belief in God versus unbelief, but also by faithfulness versus unfaithfulness.

In Acts 27 God gave Paul an umbrella of protection because of Paul’s obedience in ministry. Whether or not the others on board his sinking ship realized it, many were gathered under the umbrella and found safety. But let’s take a look at another kind of umbrella in the storm, on display in the familiar account of the prophet Jonah. You’ll recall that God called the prophet to go preach deliverance to Nineveh, Israel’s bitter enemy. But rather than preach to the people of Nineveh, Jonah ran the other way, booked passage to Tarshish, and wound up in a fishy situation. Consider these similarities between Jonah and Paul:

• Both were Hebrews, had Jewish backgrounds, and believed in the one true God.

• Both were preachers.

• Both were called to preach unpopular messages in pagan cities.

• Both boarded a ship.

• Both experienced a terrible, life-threatening storm.

• Both greatly impacted the rest of the crew.

• Both knew the key to the crew’s survival.

Paul and Jonah had many similarities, didn’t they? But let’s consider a few contrasts between Paul and Jonah. They differed in at least the following ways:

• Paul was compelled to go to Rome; Jonah was repelled by his calling to Nineveh.

• Paul faced many obstacles on his way to Rome, including imprisonment, injustices, inclement weather, and other difficulties; Jonah’s only obstacle was himself!

• Paul had to sit and wait for the Lord; Jonah stood and ran from the Lord!

• Paul felt responsibility for the crew, although the calamity was not his fault; Jonah slept while the others worked to survive the calamity he had brought on them.

Paul and Jonah are great characters to compare and contrast because we can relate to both of them! Sometimes we respond with obedience like Paul. Other times we run from God with a sprinter’s stride like Jonah, who revealed an amusing cowardice when in Jonah 1:12, the fugitive preacher told the ship’s crewmen, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea so it may quiet down for you, for I know that I’m to blame for this violent storm that is against you” (hcsb). Notice he never offered to jump in!

Let’s ask a fair question based on their examples: Does prompt obedience really make much difference? When all was said and done, didn’t Paul suffer through a terrible storm although he had been entirely obedient? Didn’t Jonah get another chance to obey, and an entire city was spared? So . . . what difference does prompt obedience or faithfulness make anyway?

God loves us whether or not we are obedient, but the quality of our Christian lives is dramatically affected by our response. Allow me to point out a big difference between the obedient Christian and the disobedient one, between obedient times and disobedient times. Jesus said, “If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (John 15:10–11 hcsb).

Although Jonah was ultimately obedient and surprisingly successful, you will search in vain for a single hint of joy in his life. Although Paul seemed to suffer at every turn, he had more to say about joy than any other mouthpiece in the Word of God.

An attitude of obedience makes a difference both to the servant himself and to those close by. Servants of God can dramatically affect the lives of others positively or negatively. Under Jonah’s umbrella in the storm, many experienced calamity. Under Paul’s umbrella, however, many found safety.

Is the sky rumbling? Are clouds darkening? Is a storm rising in the horizon? If you are a child of God, you will hold an umbrella in the storm. You will not be under the umbrella alone. Neither will I. Our children will be under there with us. Our coworkers may be too. The flocks God has entrusted to us will be there. Even the lost are often drawn to people of faith when hurricane winds begin to blow. Child of God, you and I are centered on the bow of the ship when storms come and the waves crash. May the rest of the crew find an umbrella of blessing in our midst.