Shipwrecks and Snake Bites!

Recently at a Pastor Spiritual Formation Conference in Malta, the FM leadership asked me to give a devotional at the Grotto cave where the Apostle Paul spent three months. Upon reviewing Acts and the Malta story, it struck how much Paul’s journey of ups and downs, struggles, setbacks, miracles, and prestigious experiences relate to the trails and trials of our lives and ministries.

Way back in Romans 1:10, Paul expressed his vision “My prayer is to come to you” to bring the Gospel to the capital of the world. Eventually, his dream came true as described in the conclusion in Acts.  There Paul was under house arrest near Rome preaching and teaching for two years day and night that “the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles” (Acts 28:28).  What an incredible journey from Corinth where he first expressed his vision to its final fulfillment at the end of Acts. Likewise, our lives mirror Paul’s journey with challenges and obstacles from our calling to its final realization.  From start to finish, the route zig zags endlessly until we reach God’s destination for us.  Notice the following detours in Paul’s path.

1. Delays procrastinated his longing and tested his drive from 55 A.D. when Romans was written until 60 A.D. when the archaeological signs indicate Paul arrive in Malta.
2. Initially, he started by going the opposite direction.  The GPS route from Corinth to Rome was short, he ended up going to Jerusalem before catching the ship to Rome. (Acts 27:1).  The route of our dreams is rarely direct, short, fast, and easy.
3. He was prophesied against his plan and urged not to go. (Acts 21:12). Nay saying is expected when attempting one’s vision.
4. Opportunity, however, gave Paul the chance to speak before the high priest, the governors Felix and Festus, and king Agrippa, but he did not settle for false honor nor second goals and appealed to Caesar. His highest life goal must have been to declare Jesus Christ before the Ruler of the World then. 
5. Paul was told that he was “Out of his mind” and ridiculed for expecting the educated to be “persuaded” so “easily”. (Acts 26:24).  Don’t expect bravo from your audience.
6. The timing was wrong for sailing to Rome in Autumn, yet still his ship took the risk. Even bad timing can bring God’s results.

1. He had friends with him, Luke and Aristarchus, and he made friends as he went. Julius was the Roman officer assigned to transporting Paul to Rome.  All three became leaders in the church. (Acts 27:1-2). The journey together trains tomorrow’s leaders.
2. The beginning of the voyage to Rome was “against the winds”, “slow sailing” and “with difficulty”.  (Acts 27:4, 7-8).  Beginnings are always tough.
3. At “Fair Havens” cove, their ship found a safe place south of Crete Island. The ship crew and the Roman commander, Julius, refused to hear Paul’s prophetic warning of “injury, loss of cargo, ship and lives”.  (27:10).  Sometimes it is better to wait rather than plowing on with risky sailing.
4. Instead, a deceptive “south wind” gave them false hope to try to make it to a better harbor.  Once the ship drifted past the cape, the winds changed, and the powerful “Northeaster” wind drove them out to open sea. The greed of money and haste to move on tricked them to make a disastrous choice. (27: 13-14)
5. Then during the days of being “violently storm tossed”, of darkness with “no sun” and “no stars”, of lost cargo, of hopelessness and without food, an angel visited Paul and he prophesied a crazy message to have faith in God and all would be rescued.  Paul’s first message was ignored, but this time they believed and followed his directions. (27:18-31)
6. Their last meal was communion before they crashed into the rocks of Malta and all 276 passengers survived just as Paul prophesied. (27:37-42). Even unbelievers have faith when they face death and the Lord spared them all.

After all that, the story and trials did not end, while recovering from the shipwreck around a fire a snake bit Paul of all persons. (28:3). Satan’s target is the strongest spiritual leader. Like in the garden of Gethsemane, the serpent attempted to poison the man of God.  The strong hero was singled out openly for all to see.  The poison could have taken four deadly forms of emotions and actions:

1. Being cursed.  “Justice has not allowed him to live”. (28:4)
2. Delusions of divinity or the “god” syndrome. “He was a god”. (28:6)
3. Denial.  Paul did not hide it and pretend the snake bite did not happen.
4. Victim.  Paul did not play the victim of bad luck and misery saying woe is me.

Instead, Paul’s vulnerability allowed God’s supernatural power to bring a miracle to Publius’s father. Publius was the island leader. Then after Paul’s miracle lead to that significant healing, all the sick came to faith from all over the island! The Gospel reached the crew and the whole island population through a shipwreck and a snakebite.  Because you least expect it and a snake bites you like Paul, do the following:

1. Acknowledge the snake bite and satan got you.
2. Practice transparency instead of hiding the incidence. 
3. Allow the healing process to use faith as the antidote instead of claiming instant health.
4. Expect today’s snake bites to prepare you for tomorrow’s miracle. 

Thanks for reading our post. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. https://give.fmcusa.org/page.aspx?pid=678

On this Easter remember that the SNAKE bit Jesus for you and me, but all the poison of the world’s sin could not keep him in the grave. May the glory of his resurrection shine in our lives every day because his blood by faith is the antidote that each of our needs desperately!!!