July 11
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THE SHIPWRECK AND PAUL’S LIFE SPARED
A poem by ILMA
About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm at Adrian Sea
The sailors sensed land was near, they dropped a weighted line
They discovered water was 120 feet deep and dropped 90 feet after
They feared it would hit the rocks along the shore, so they anchored it.
Sailors tried to abandon the ship, but Paul told them they’d die if they do
The soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away
Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat
All were worried for two weeks that they haven’t eaten.
When morning dawned, they didn’t know the coastline but saw a beach
They cut off the anchors and left them in the sea and lowered the rudders
They raised the foresail, and headed towards shore but hit a shoal
They ran the ship aground too soon, the stern repeatedly smashed.
The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they don’t swim to escape
But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul so he didn’t let them do it
He ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land
The others held on to planks or debris from the ship and all went safely to shore.
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MEMORY VERSE
Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks.”– Acts 27:33
Read: Acts 27:27-44
If only the officers listened to Paul’s instructions earlier during the sail, they wouldn’t have been shipwrecked. We see how worried everyone was except Paul. He had direct instructions from God that they will not die. We also see how the Lord spared Paul’s life when the commanding officer did not heed the plan to kill the prisoners.
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REFLECTION
• How did God protect Paul during the sail to Rome?
• Why do you think people don’t listen to good advice and wisdom?