Northeaster called as Nor’easter it’s a cyclone in western north Atlantic Ocean. This storm typically comes in the winter between Sep to Mar in North Atlantic. Many people who live in US and Europe know nor’easter as its referred very often when severe storms come their way. The roots of Northeaster are in Acts Chapter 27, which we will learn in a bit. Before we learn on this, let’s look at Paul.
Paul, an Apostle of God was being persecuted for his works for God. Thru the Holy Spirit he is promised to go to Jerusalem, where he is arrested and taken as a prisoner and God once again Speaks to him and tells he will be taken to Rome to glorify his name.
'The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” ' Acts 23:11
Before this promise from God to be fulfilled, Paul stands in Trial with Roman Governors - Felix, Festus, King Agrippa. Later based on his trials, Paul appealed to be heard with Caesar. Based on this Festus, King Agrippa and officials decided to send him to Rome for his trial with Caesar. We read this in Acts 24 to 26.
Refer the Map going from Jerusalem to Rome back then it was not so easy to travel like how it’s now. All of this travel had to be done thru ship, it’s not a ship journey where we run point to point. Secondly, these ships travel based on Wind pattern. If you read Acts 27, you will understand his travel was in multiple ships to travel to Rome, Refer the Map on his 4thJourney on the path how Paul travelled from Jerusalem to Rome. It took 3 months to travel thru this to arrive at Rome. What an endurance Paul had to go thru these challenges, as a prisoner.
STROM WARNING
Remember, Paul is not an ordinary apostle, he is always lead by Holy spirit. As they sailed near a place called Fair Heavens, Paul gives a warning not to travel.
'Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. ' Acts 27:9-11
The centurion ignores the warning, takes the advice of Pilot and the owner of the ship and proceeds further.
CALL FOR ACTION
Many times, God gives us forewarning on the troubles we will face. We turn deaf ears to many of them as our eyes are always set on what we want (not the one God wants), we ignore to what God is saying to us and the spiritual advice we get and forge ahead. Later we face the consequences and complaint to God.
If we pray regularly and always seek God and surrender to his will, we will hear his voice and turn away from the dangers that’s ahead of us.
NORTHEASTER STROM
As they go along, they are caught on storm. Read this in Acts it describes the fury of the storm and their plight
'Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. ' Acts 27:14-20
I was researching on this storm after I read this passage, this storm happened in Sep (“Day of Atonement – Refers to Sep 15th / 16th ), the winds from Nor’easter storm is around 140 KPH. Given the Mediterranean region where they travelled, it should have been very cold during that time.
For a moment, visualize the storm, after reading the passage
a. The storm was so intense, they hardly had time to secure the lifeboats, remember this is the first thing any one does secure when there is danger in ship, we read “we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure”.
b. The winds were so high and violent they were afraid the ship will be broken, so they tied used ropes to ties the ships under to hold it together “Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together.”
c. Still that did not help them, they were afraid they lowered the sea anchor to help ship hit a ground and hold somewhere, where they can be safe. “Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along”
d. Still that did not help them, now they took such a violent beating from the winds and the ships storms they were tossed around, so they threw the Cargo’s around to see if that will help calm “We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.”
e. Still it did not help them, all these had happened for 3 days, remember how you will feel being tossed in a storm ravaging with high winds, with no food and tiring after all this hard work? Lastly, they threw the ships tackle on their own hands to see this will help. Still the wind did not stop.
f. They did not see sun nor stars for more than 3 days after the storm had started and it was pitch dark, they had given hope of being saved “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.”
The reason I wanted you to visualize this is to understand the consequence of not following Gods advice, remember Paul warned them not to travel, thru took the advice of Pilot and the Owner to proceed further.
Paul stands up and gives a prophetic word in this lowest time when they are in need for desperate help
'After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ' Acts 27:21-25
I am sure many of us are like the sailors who may have battered and bruised with situations in life.
Learnings we can take from this storm is
1. GOD IS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP: As you imagine the plight of Paul and the sailors, they were in a pathetic state. Paul prayed in this state and God and spoke thru an angel. Our God does not remember what we have done in past, he is always a call away, no matter how bad the situation may be. Always remember he is a call away, always call God for “SOS” help. Do not rely on your strength to overcome current challenges.
2. DO NOT BE AFRAID: “Do not be afraid” that’s the first word given by Angel. Remember Satan comes to instill fear, but God first word is “Do not be afraid”, he removes fear from our situation to comfort us. This is a common that you will see across in Bible in many situations (e.g., The Shepherds were greeted that way to announce Jesus Birth, Mary was greeted by Angel as she was looking for Jesus body, likewise there are many instances in old and new testament).
3. ZEALOUS OF GOD: We see from Paul’s word how zealous he was when he proclaimed the prophetic word “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me”, He expressed great Zeal to tell the word. We need to have that type of Zeal when we proclaim God’s word to other who may not know Christ or when God does some action in our life.
4. GRACE AND FAITH: We see God’s grace with Paul all thru his trials, he had grace with Centurion first (Beginning of Acts 27), God’s grace was there all through the storm with Paul, if you look, he prayed in the midst of storm to see God’s grace to have an angel come and comfort him. All the sailors were saved. He asks them to have Faith that God will spare their lives, he knows God will do that for him, but he tells the sailors to have faith. “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me”
CALL FOR ACTION
1. TRUST IN GOD – Do not depend on your own ability, instead depend on God to help you, he knows our future, he knows the storms that come in our life. Live a life that is dependent on him.
2. GOD IS A GRACIOUS GOD - God is so gracious that he does not ditch us even in times of low points of our lives. Always call to him, Appa / Father, he longs to help us in times of trouble, he does not carry our past to give any conditional help like how we humans say. “If you do this, I will help that way” sort of a things.
3. BE ZEALOUS OF GOD – Our God is a zealous God, and we are his children, we need to show the same zeal when we worship him as well as when we tell the good works of God. Be a living witness to God and tell other’s his amazing works that has transformed your life. Don’t shy away. God takes great pride in us when we go brag about his goodness. No matter if it’s a small or big work. Start this practice today.
4. THROW YOUR SELF QUALITIES – Ask God to take away the self-dependent things in you, your anger, your pride, your lust, your idols that you may carry and things which are self-centered on you. Start looking to him to get closer, so that you are a reach away from God.
Stay blessed!
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