Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. However, we must run aground on a certain island.”
Paul was in a miserable situation. Imagine being packed into the hold of a heavily ladened ship with 275 other people. After fourteen days in a terrifying storm, everyone, even the sailors, had given up hope. And yet he was able to speak with confidence about their future. Where did this confidence come from? It came from “the God to whom I belong and whom I serve.” He knew that God wanted him in Rome and was confident that God would keep him until his purpose for living had been fulfilled. Those who belong to God can have this same confidence. Do you?
