Paul The Prisoner Turned Pastor on the Ship! = Acts 27

33 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. 34 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.” 35 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. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

In quite a turn of events, the ship Paul is on going to Italy is suddenly caught up in a violent storm.  Paul warned the captain and owner of the ship that if they kept going further it would be disastrous, but they did not listen to him.  Then, in the passage of the above, Paul urges them to eat or they won't have the stamina to continue on.  He assures them that they will be fine.  Paul, a prisoner of the ship, is giving direction to everyone in the power of the Holy Spirit. But we also know Paul was a seasoned traveler.

Guzik says, "Paul did not necessarily speak here as a prophet of God, but perhaps as an experienced traveler on the Mediterranean, having already traveled some 3,500 miles by sea. Knowing the seasons and conditions – and perhaps with supernatural wisdom – Paul advised that they not go on."

Paul takes the opportunity to encourage the men on the ship with the word God had granted him. He uses a quote from Jesus when he sent his disciples out into the world in Matthew 10, "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. " Paul is saying this to men who were both prisoners and the crew on board.  Paul comforted them with the assurance that God cares about them each of them individually even knowing how many hairs there were on their heads.  

God uses Paul in each and every situation he finds himself in.  Can you imagine how exciting it must have been for Paul knowing that whatever "dire straits" he was in God would work things together for good?  Maybe this is the inspiration for what Paul writes in prison to the Romans, "And I know that God works all things together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

How about you? How do you react when you are put difficult circumstances?  What if each day we like Paul were open to how might God use us in any and every situation?  I think it would make life quite exciting.  What a great prayer in the morning to offer to God,  "Heavenly Father I am open to however you would use me today.  Even when bad things happen to me help me to see where you can use it for good for others who may be far from you."