Enduring Hope

Acts 27:33–39

“Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.”

The earlier verses of taking depth soundings, the descriptions of the Adriatic, the ships they encountered, and the overall seascape coincide with what’s really there compared with other historical records. We can trust that the word of God is true and that properly understood, we can safely assume that the bible is reliable unless otherwise disproved and not the other way around. Today we see a great opportunity for the Apostle Paul to spread hope, encouragement in the Gospel, and to glorify God in the presence of 276 aboard a precarious ship. He gave thanks to God in front of them all (v. 35) amidst a hope that was long lost. This reminds me of someone holding on steadily to God against despair: “His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said (Job 2:9-10).” If the we can trust the truth in Scripture we can trust the subject of it all, indeed, its author, the very same Author of Life! Even in times of distress and challenging circumstances, even while we are being tested, God supplies our needs, He gives breath and life and we have the Christ, that is more enough to be thankful for. The promise of survival and a little meal encouraged everyone on board the ship (v. 34) and likewise, Christ, the bread of life, offers a hope that cannot be diminished like a flickering candle in utter darkness, it is a torch with a flame that just won’t die, whatever we encounter, even the threat of death itself, we know the one who conquered it and He dwells in our innermost being, He tells us that He keeps peace, a future, a great hope for each one of us: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jer 29:11).” Amidst the noise and chaos, the Lord Jesus is Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6) and no matter what hardships we are faced with, we can ask for a peace that comes from the powerful love of God that is not dependent on our own strength or the situation around us.