Encouraging to take food

“Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken in nothing. Therefore, I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your survival, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” (1) Here, Paul used common sense and encouraged them to eat. The crew had been drifting in the storm and had gone 14 days without food. Paul’s faith was practical and grounded in reality. Strength was necessary to make it safely to shore. Paul’s ability to make such wise decisions is one of the remarkable aspects of his faith. (2) Next, Paul declared God’s promise. (a) “This is for your survival.” (b) “Not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” This was a well-known proverb in the Old Testament, and its meaning was understood even by non-Jews. The Lord Jesus also spoke a similar proverb. “But even the hairs of your head are all counted” (Luke 12:7a). “Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and he broke it and began to eat.” (1) This was not a Communion (Lord’s Supper) service, but a Jewish meal that began with a prayer. There is a traditional Jewish blessing recited before meals: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” Through this prayer, it was clearly emphasized that their rescue from the stormy sea was the work of Paul’s God. (2) Paul took a piece of bread, broke it, and ate. Then, everyone followed his example and ate as well. This meal gave them strength. “We were 276 people on the ship in all. When they had eaten enough, they began lightening the ship by throwing the wheat out into the sea.” (1) There were 276 people on board. However, the number of prisoners among them is unknown. (2) After eating sufficiently, they threw the cargo (grain) into the sea. This was done to lighten the ship and reduce its draft (the depth the ship sinks into the water). It was a strategy to bring the ship as close to land as possible. The fulfillment of God’s promises happens through a harmony of human effort and divine intervention. For God’s promise to be fulfilled: (1) The presence of sailors was necessary. (2) Food was necessary. (3) The ability to swim or floating objects was necessary. We must not limit the ways in which God works. God can even work through unbelievers. Today, let us continue to be used by God.