Maybe you know what it’s like to make a decision on impulse. Maybe you’ve even rejected the Word of God that has come to you in the Scriptures or from trusted Christian friends. And maybe your rebellious, impulsive decision has blown up in your face.

That’s what happened to the ancient sailors in today’s passage. For everyone knew it wasn’t a good idea to sail the Mediterranean between the middle of September and the end of January. The weather was just too unreliable for sailing ships to venture out into the open seas.

But the centurion who was responsible for taking Paul to Rome found a ship sailing to Italy from Myra, he decided to take a chance (27:6). And in spite of Paul’s warnings (27:10), and doubtless against his own nautical judgment, when the ship’s captain saw an opportunity to sail around the coast of Crete from Fair Havens to Phoenix – a distance of only about 40 miles – he jumped at the chance, and a majority of the people on board agreed with him (27:11).

Yes, those ancient sailors in the midst of that terrible typhoon ended up where we so often find ourselves after an impulsive, rebellious decision – hopeless, overwhelmed, feeling like there’s no way out, and having no one to blame but ourselves.

Well, the good news is that God was with them, even in the midst of trouble of their own making. And because God was determined that Paul would make it to Rome (27:24), nothing they had done could possibly thwart His will. In fact, God promised to save all of them from the sea (27:22), even those who had rejected Paul’s warnings.

And the good news is that the same God has the same amount of control over all the circumstances of our lives today. No matter what we’ve done or left undone, no matter how impulsive or rebellious we might have been, we can trust in His grace and rely on His promises to forgive and to protect all those who turn away from our sin and who trust in Christ. So even though we may still be in the midst of the storm, let us take heart – for God’s Word never fails.

Acts 27:9-26 (ESV)

9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”
11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.
12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.
14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.
15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.
16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat.
17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along.
18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.
19 And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.
20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.
22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,
24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.
26 But we must run aground on some island.”