What To Do About That Little Voice

It’s that little voice inside, the advice of a friend, or perhaps a passage of scripture that speaks to you. It is God trying to stop you from doing something. Yet you proceed against the advice and do it anyways, putting yourself in peril. Perhaps you’ve been the one cautioning someone, but they refuse to listen. This is the situation Paul faced in Acts 27.

Paul is being transported to Rome via ship. They had harbored for some time in “a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea (verse 8, NASB).” When the centurion wants to continue their journey, but Paul advised, “‘Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.’ But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul (10-11).” So “they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore (13).”

Before long, a violent storm overtook the ship, threatening them with shipwreck. For days they are battered by the wind and waves. At this point, Paul has his “I told you so” moment: “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss (21).” Yet God does not just leave them to their own accord because of their disobedience. He intends to still fulfill his purposes. Paul tells all aboard none would perish because God wanted him to stand before Caesar (22-24). Paul told them, “Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told (25).”

Suddenly, because the storm happened just as Paul told them, he has more credibility. They chose to now listen to Paul’s instructions and all aboard make it safely to a shore on an island. It’s a good lesson for us to listen to God’s word. He intends good things for us. He intends to fulfill His purposes despite our choices to the contrary. We don’t have to wait to see if what we’re told comes true. God is a credible guide, a wise mentor. We can trust Him and put our faith in His word.