I have been thinking about Paul’s shipwreck on the island of Malta.
I have never been to Malta. I do not know anything about what Malta is like. So, I will use these photos of the island of Santorini to imagine what the island of Malta might have been like when Paul was washed ashore after being shipwrecked.
“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 ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.” – Acts 27:39-44
Weeks before, when the ship was still back in Crete, Paul had warned the leaders in charge that it would not be wise to try to continue to voyage. But the leaders were arrogant and they made a very foolish decision.
As a result, the ship was helplessly caught in a raging storm … driven mercilessly by the wind! For two weeks! Can you imagine being tossed wildly on raging seas for two straight weeks?! Ultimately the ship ran aground on the island of Malta.
Paul and his two ministry companions who were traveling with him (Luke and Aristarchus) all suffered the consequences of the foolish decision made by others.
Have you ever been in a situation where you suffered the consequences of foolish decisions made by others?
It can be frustrating, to say the least.
If it had been up to us, we wouldn’t be in this place.
If the leadership had listened to Paul’s warning, none of them would be in this place. They wouldn’t be suffering these consequences.
But alas. Here they are. Weary with exhaustion, chilled to the bone … struggling ashore in the pouring-down rain!
“Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.” – Acts 28:1-2
Not only are Paul, and Luke, and Aristarchus suffering the consequences of other people’s foolish decisions, but more bad things happen!
“Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’” – Acts 28:3-4
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are suffering the consequences of other people’s foolish decisions, and you are trying to have a good attitude … you are trying to “keep your chin up” and keep going … but then more bad things happen on top of it all? Really??
“But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
“There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
“When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.” – Acts 28:5-9
The entire time Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus were being tossed on the raging sea due to someone else’s foolish decision … they weren’t forsaken by God! They were being redirected by God.
When their ship ran aground in a far, desolate corner of the earth, on a remote desolate island … they weren’t forsaken by God! They were being directed by God.
When Paul suffered more bad things happening as a deadly viper fastened hold onto his hand … he wasn’t forsaken by God. He was being directed by God. Because there was a man on that island whom God cared about very much. A man who was suffering with fever and dysentery. And God had re-directed Paul (through the foolish decisions of others) to this exact place … at this exact time … for this specific man whom God wanted to heal.
If the viper had not come out of the brush and fastened hold onto Paul’s hand, the islanders would not have known the power of God was on Paul. It was because of the “more bad things” that a door was opened for great things to be accomplished on that island.
If the leaders on Paul’s ship had not made their foolish decision, the sick father on Malta would probably have died. The rest of the sick islanders would not have been healed. And the people of Malta would not have heard the good news of Jesus Christ.
But they did!
All because of a very foolish decision … which resulted in painful consequences.
In our own lives, it’s really hard to have a good attitude when we are in a situation suffering painful consequences due to someone else’s foolish decision. It leaves us feeling like we are “drifting off course.” Or maybe, “being blown off course.”
But no. God is re-directing us. God has not forsaken us.
When our life winds up “running aground” in a “far desolate corner” … we aren’t forsaken by God. God is directing us.
When more bad things happen … we aren’t forsaken by God. We are being directed by God. Because we never know who might be in that “far desolate corner” whom we never would have crossed paths with otherwise. We never know how those “more bad things” will actually open amazing doors we never imagined.
We never know what good God might bring about … in spite of very foolish decisions, which result in painful consequences.
