Acts 27:27 -28:10
When in the midst of the tempest an angel stood by Paul and assured him that he must be brought before Caesar, which meant that he could not perish in the sea, he was assured that for his sake all on board should escape, thought the ship would be lost.
“Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved,” was the assurance. Yet Paul had said before that there should be no loss of life on the ship. He had received this assurance, too, from the angel. If it was the divine purpose that no life should perish in this storm, why did Paul say here that unless the seamen stood at their posts the passengers could not be saved? The divine assurance of safety did not do away with the use of all proper human means for securing deliverance.
“Then the sailors cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.” The sailors had let the boat down, intending to escape in it. The soldiers foiled their plan by cutting the ropes and letting the boat drift off. Thus the sailors were kept on the ship and were compelled to do their duty. There is a story of a little girl with a warm heart for dumb animals, who prayed that the rabbits might not be caught in her brother’s traps. After praying very earnestly she whispered to her mother that she knew they would not be caught. When her mother asked her why she was so sure, she said she had destroyed the traps. We must work as well as pray.
More and more the prisoner was revealed as the man for the emergency. “While the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat.” We must always care for our bodily health. When Elijah was fleeing from Jezebel’s threat, despairing because of the seeming failure of his work, an angel found him under a juniper tree, wishing he were dead. Instead of giving him good advice, or even reminding him of the divine promises, the angel brought him something to eat. Then, after he had eaten he slept. Food and sleep were what Elijah needed. There are times when what persons need is not a tract, nor good advice, nor even a prayer, but something to eat, clothes to keep them warm.
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