God's Provision Through The Worst

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could. 40 After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. 41 But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore. 1 Once safely ashore, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. 3 As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They expected that he would begin to swell up or suddenly drop dead. After they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. 7 Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 Publius’s father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.

Pray

After all that Paul his companions the other prisoners the guards and sailors had been through with a huge storm that blew them way off course. Scared for their lives not knowing what is going to happen to them. They had a crazy prisoner telling them that his God (which most people on board don’t believe in ) that its Going ok because he hears voices. It’s Not looking Good.

As they come near land the guards know that they cannot keep a secure position on the prisoners so they seek to kill them to keep them from escaping. Roman military Law decreed that a guard who allowed his prisoner to escape was subject to the same penalty the escaped prisoner would have suffered. Thus the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners. Instead of letting them escape and facing punishment. But the centurion who had been treating Paul rather nice throughout the trip and not keeping him in harsh conditions. He keeps the soldiers from killing Paul.

So they all get to land either by swimming or by holding on to pieces of the wreckage

Malta

They land on an Island called Malta. Melita is an island about 18 miles long and 8 miles wide. In Phoenician the original language of the island the name Melita Meant “a place of refuge”. Fitting for its function in this event in Paul’s life. The most common place for Paul’s landing is now called Saint Paul’s Bay.

There they are warmly welcomed.

But as Paul is putting sticks on the fire a snake comes and bites Paul on the hand. The people say that Paul must have been a murder for even after he survives the storm the Justice or vengeance still takes him. The word there literally in the Greek is Dike (Dee Kay). This is the goddess of Justice, punishment. She is the daughter of Zeus.

Paul must be a murder because after the storm did not take him and yet still this goddess came for him. Had Paul died he might have had an epitaph like the one written for a shipwrecked sailor who was killed by a snakebite.

O, he escaped the storm and the raging of the murderous sea. But as he lay stranded in the libyan sand, not far from the beach and heavy with sleep, at last, naked and destitute, weary as he was from the terrible shipwreck, the viper struck him dead. Why did he struggle against the waves? He did not escape the lot which was destined for him on land (Palatine Anthology 7.290).

But Paul did not die instead he was not affected by the snakebite. So the islanders decided that he must be a god. Or perhaps just a favorite of the gods. The islanders however do not try to worship Paul. But it does allow Paul to be the center of attention and allowed him to see the father of Publius. Publius is the “first man of the island”. And Paul is able to heal Him.

Hedge of Protection

So often do We pray do I pray for a hedge of protection around us. I want to be safe and protected for me and my family. Do not one bad things to happen. And who does. I don’t know a single person that really wants bad things to happen to them. We all want that hedge of protection.

No one wants the Hurricane that has destroyed so much and the hurricanes that are coming. No one want the Flooding that has crippled so many people. Running them out of their houses causing the lose of what they hold dear.

No one really wants the drought that is effecting the other half of the country causing lose of crops and even some lives. No one wants fires that threaten to burn everything in their paths. No one wants these thing but they happen.

Paul didn’t want that storm to sweep him off to Malta. But these things happen. That’s part of Life.

But look what has happened because of this storm that Paul went through

He has been a tremendous witness for soldier, the sailors and everyone else aboard the ship

He has also been able to witness to the people of an island. An island who may not have heard if Paul had not been sent to Malta to that place of Refuge.

Distress often leads us out of our comfort zone and to unexpected places for the God’s Glory. If we are honest in our worship of Him. Last time I was here we talked about trust in God during the difficult times. And that is part of the worship of him. I say hones worship of him. Because if we are honest in our worship of God then he will be with us and we will be doing God’s will. And therefore in our worship of God be Glorifying God.

It is through our disorientation that we Grow and be lead to a place of new orientation. A place were we can Glorify God through our actions and where the Love of Jesus Christ can be shown. Because it is but by Christ blood that we are saved.

John Maxwell says, “opportunity is birthed out of problems. The birthplace of opportunity is always adversity. In fact, if you're looking for a big opportunity, seek out a big problems.”

Where has God brought you?

Have you missed the opportunity?

Next Steps

Look back and see how the distress or disorientation of your life has greatly influenced your life. And where has God put you and what for.

Where is God bringing you?

Maybe you are being brought by God somewhere. Are you going through a period of Disorientation

And as you have gone through and are still going through that’s life.

Don’t forget to encourage. Encouragement isn’t quoting some verse of scripture. It can be. But it is being there when you are needed and lending a helping hand.