Divine Detour to Malta en-route to Rome
Divine Detour to Malta en-route to Rome
Detours are common during road constructions and/or auto accidents on the road. You must have experienced a road detour as I just described. Usually, you find out things and neighborhoods you never knew existed. On detours, you observe people, houses and the difference from the usual route while you are still focused on reaching your destination. Detours usually add more time and extra distance to the journey. Life has a way of giving us minor and major detours. What we consider detours are usually included in God’s plan for us and I will call them Devine Detours. The Lord may not initiate them but He can allow divine detours.
Apostle Paul’s ship has crashed and now they find out that they landed in the island of Malta. Surprise for God? Not at all! Yes for Paul and the other 275 passengers who were in the ship. Remember that the entire ship and cargo was lost except the people in the storm and shipwreck. I bet you they were happy to be alive. Life continues even in detours and that was what happened next. Will you continue to live life to the fullest even in detours so as to accomplish God’s purpose? That is exactly what Paul and company did.
Acts 28: 1-11
1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3Paul 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. 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The 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.
7There 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. 8His 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. 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. 11After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. The Island of Malta was also known as Melita by the Greeks and Romans. The islanders “were Phoenician in ancestry and used a Phoenician dialect but were thoroughly Romanized”. In other words, they were a new people group and one of God’s “nations” as in “go to all nations”.
2. When you survive a major storm and in the midst of a detour, people tend to be soft toward you. 2”The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold” vs.2. We should also show kindness to those in storm and detours of life. People in detours of life are not too had to find and they are among us.
3. People will always wonder why you and I are going through a storm or detour. They will come up hypotheses. Usually they will point to a sin or an imagined sin in our lives. Notice what the islanders said. "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." Vs.4. People have made comments and debated why the earthquake happened in Haiti. Jesus had an answer. “Those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" Luke 13:5. My uncle owned a dog he named, “Let them say”. Hey, let them say whatever but keep your eyes on God.
4. The storm and/or detour allows us time to look inside. Not because of what people are saying but because we have more time on our hands and going slower than usual. It is a time to seek God and get close to him. It is a time to remind us “whose we are”. We are bought and washed by the precious blood of Christ and belong to the King of Kings and maker of heaven and earth. What can go wrong with our God? Nothing. Noting can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
5. The islanders must have known about the deadliness of the viper that bit Paul to be poisonous. The people expected Paul to drop dead. “But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects” vs.5. Like Paul, let’s shake off the snake and stop debating about what to do. There are things you just have to deal with immediately and trust God for the outcome. Paul believed the word of God he had received time and time again that he will make it to Rome. Snake bite, like any other distraction should not be given our precious time. Let’s keep believing God and keep on moving. “No weapon fashioned against you will prosper.” It may strike you but it shall not produce the intended effect.
6. God plants people along the way of our detour to be ministered to. Let’s not miss the opportunities because the tendency is to feel sorry for ourselves. Look at Publius, the city official’s gesture and the revival that followed. His father was healed and “the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured” vs.9. Revival broke out because the power of God was demonstrated and a Church was born.
7. In storms and detours, God’s will is still being accomplished. God’s purpose is to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth and to all nations. What a better end of the earth or nation than the Islanders. We tend to be too zeroed in only on one outcome while God has many other outcomes including the one we have in mind. Yes, God has said he will take Paul to Rome. But the purpose of taking him to Rome is still being accomplished in Malta. Will you and I allow God to be God in our lives and let him bring forth various outcomes in our storms and detours?
8. Paul and company spent three months in Malta because they had just landed before the beginning of winter and sailing season only started again in 3 months time (maybe February or early March). They did not have any choice or other means of getting to Rome. In a storm/detour, we just have to go with the ride and flow and let God’s will be done and Him glorified. You can’t change the circumstances, so join God in what He is doing.
9. I will consider our 15 years of waiting to have Jonathan a major storm and detour. I wish I had known ahead of time, I would have acted differently with a better attitude. At the end, God’s will was done.
10. New things/people are birthed in storms/detours. A Church was born in Malta. In our case, in addition to Jonathan, our daughter Grace was born (adopted) into our family by the providence of God. To God be the Glory! Other ugly things could be born also as a result of storm/detour. If care is not taken, anger, frustration and lasting bitterness could be born. We must fight to avoid these. Bitterness/anger if not dealt with we are told will give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). Some people sometimes never recover from the seed of bitterness acquired during the storm/detour (Hebrews 12:15). These folks are very touchy (easily offended) and need extra grace and prayer.
11. We see an example of biblical transformation at the city level. The city official’s household was transformed and the rest of the people of the island. When we live out the Christ in us especially in times of crisis, transformation takes place in the general population. The Church is still the only salt of the earth. The earthquake in Haiti is a good example where the Church can be used to transform the people.
Are you in the current storm and detour of unemployment? It is a real storm so let’s not minimize it and we pray for you. Trust God and enjoy the ride as much as you can while looking for job. Also, allow God to birth in you something new for His glory. God can also use volunteer efforts or back- to- school days if you can afford it. Are you in any other storm/detour? We all must trust God and pray that lives (including ours) will be changed during our storm/detour. Don’t waste your storm and enjoy the scenery of your detour for God’s glory. His grace is sufficient for us. It was for Paul. Amen
Detours are common during road constructions and/or auto accidents on the road. You must have experienced a road detour as I just described. Usually, you find out things and neighborhoods you never knew existed. On detours, you observe people, houses and the difference from the usual route while you are still focused on reaching your destination. Detours usually add more time and extra distance to the journey. Life has a way of giving us minor and major detours. What we consider detours are usually included in God’s plan for us and I will call them Devine Detours. The Lord may not initiate them but He can allow divine detours.
Apostle Paul’s ship has crashed and now they find out that they landed in the island of Malta. Surprise for God? Not at all! Yes for Paul and the other 275 passengers who were in the ship. Remember that the entire ship and cargo was lost except the people in the storm and shipwreck. I bet you they were happy to be alive. Life continues even in detours and that was what happened next. Will you continue to live life to the fullest even in detours so as to accomplish God’s purpose? That is exactly what Paul and company did.
Acts 28: 1-11
1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3Paul 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. 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The 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.
7There 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. 8His 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. 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. 11After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. The Island of Malta was also known as Melita by the Greeks and Romans. The islanders “were Phoenician in ancestry and used a Phoenician dialect but were thoroughly Romanized”. In other words, they were a new people group and one of God’s “nations” as in “go to all nations”.
2. When you survive a major storm and in the midst of a detour, people tend to be soft toward you. 2”The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold” vs.2. We should also show kindness to those in storm and detours of life. People in detours of life are not too had to find and they are among us.
3. People will always wonder why you and I are going through a storm or detour. They will come up hypotheses. Usually they will point to a sin or an imagined sin in our lives. Notice what the islanders said. "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." Vs.4. People have made comments and debated why the earthquake happened in Haiti. Jesus had an answer. “Those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" Luke 13:5. My uncle owned a dog he named, “Let them say”. Hey, let them say whatever but keep your eyes on God.
4. The storm and/or detour allows us time to look inside. Not because of what people are saying but because we have more time on our hands and going slower than usual. It is a time to seek God and get close to him. It is a time to remind us “whose we are”. We are bought and washed by the precious blood of Christ and belong to the King of Kings and maker of heaven and earth. What can go wrong with our God? Nothing. Noting can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
5. The islanders must have known about the deadliness of the viper that bit Paul to be poisonous. The people expected Paul to drop dead. “But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects” vs.5. Like Paul, let’s shake off the snake and stop debating about what to do. There are things you just have to deal with immediately and trust God for the outcome. Paul believed the word of God he had received time and time again that he will make it to Rome. Snake bite, like any other distraction should not be given our precious time. Let’s keep believing God and keep on moving. “No weapon fashioned against you will prosper.” It may strike you but it shall not produce the intended effect.
6. God plants people along the way of our detour to be ministered to. Let’s not miss the opportunities because the tendency is to feel sorry for ourselves. Look at Publius, the city official’s gesture and the revival that followed. His father was healed and “the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured” vs.9. Revival broke out because the power of God was demonstrated and a Church was born.
7. In storms and detours, God’s will is still being accomplished. God’s purpose is to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth and to all nations. What a better end of the earth or nation than the Islanders. We tend to be too zeroed in only on one outcome while God has many other outcomes including the one we have in mind. Yes, God has said he will take Paul to Rome. But the purpose of taking him to Rome is still being accomplished in Malta. Will you and I allow God to be God in our lives and let him bring forth various outcomes in our storms and detours?
8. Paul and company spent three months in Malta because they had just landed before the beginning of winter and sailing season only started again in 3 months time (maybe February or early March). They did not have any choice or other means of getting to Rome. In a storm/detour, we just have to go with the ride and flow and let God’s will be done and Him glorified. You can’t change the circumstances, so join God in what He is doing.
9. I will consider our 15 years of waiting to have Jonathan a major storm and detour. I wish I had known ahead of time, I would have acted differently with a better attitude. At the end, God’s will was done.
10. New things/people are birthed in storms/detours. A Church was born in Malta. In our case, in addition to Jonathan, our daughter Grace was born (adopted) into our family by the providence of God. To God be the Glory! Other ugly things could be born also as a result of storm/detour. If care is not taken, anger, frustration and lasting bitterness could be born. We must fight to avoid these. Bitterness/anger if not dealt with we are told will give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). Some people sometimes never recover from the seed of bitterness acquired during the storm/detour (Hebrews 12:15). These folks are very touchy (easily offended) and need extra grace and prayer.
11. We see an example of biblical transformation at the city level. The city official’s household was transformed and the rest of the people of the island. When we live out the Christ in us especially in times of crisis, transformation takes place in the general population. The Church is still the only salt of the earth. The earthquake in Haiti is a good example where the Church can be used to transform the people.
Are you in the current storm and detour of unemployment? It is a real storm so let’s not minimize it and we pray for you. Trust God and enjoy the ride as much as you can while looking for job. Also, allow God to birth in you something new for His glory. God can also use volunteer efforts or back- to- school days if you can afford it. Are you in any other storm/detour? We all must trust God and pray that lives (including ours) will be changed during our storm/detour. Don’t waste your storm and enjoy the scenery of your detour for God’s glory. His grace is sufficient for us. It was for Paul. Amen
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