He will keep you safe

The last time I went on a sea trip from Norway to Denmark, I spent 2 nights on the sea. For the first time, I experienced what seafarers go through each day. At night, in the middle of the sea, the waves were boisterous and that tossed the very large ship back and forth. The sea was too dark and most people on board got sea sick. When we came out of the ship, I took another look at the ship. It was bigger than most of the ships I had ever been on. It was sturdy, it was well-made and looked very new. Yet, the ocean still made the ship feel like a toy floating on the waters. No matter how durable a ship is, we need to understand that on the high seas, anything is possible. Several years ago, a strong ship known as the Titanic had a major catastrophe. The makers and owners of this large ship were sure that even God cannot sink it. Yes, God did not sink it but an iceberg did.

Given these backgrounds, imagine travelling in an ark made with cypress wood and coated with pitch on boisterous waters for several months. In the 21st century, this might be considered a huge risk. In Genesis 6: 11-14, we are told that “the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” With the detailed dimensions from God, Noah and his family committed several years to do everything just as God commanded him (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:22‬). Noah was commanded to enter the ark with his family and seven pairs of clean animals and a pair of unclean animals. So on this ark was a family of eight people and a whole bunch of all the animals on earth. This might have been a heavy load on this wooden ark.

Then the Lord shut him in. (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭7:16‬b)

After Noah and his family and the pairs of animals had entered the ark, the Lord shut him in (Genesis‬ ‭7:16‬). For forty days and nights the flood water kept coming on the earth. All the windows in heaven and on earth were opened and the waters from above and below wiped out every living creature on dry land that had the breath of life (Genesis 7:22). The only survivors were Noah, his family and the animals in the ark and as if that wasn’t enough, “the waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭7:24‬). Whenever I remember my two nights on the sea and compare it with a hundred and fifty days on a waterlogged earth with no landing, it scares me. Yet, Noah and every living thing in the ark were safe because God shut them in. They were kept safe in the dangerous waters of the flood. God delivered them from evil and destruction.

When we put our hope in God, we can be sure of His provision of safety. Safety isn’t promised on this earth. Infact, we are given safety measures almost everywhere we go. There was no escape nor safety plans for Noah because God Himself secured them. No matter where we find ourselves, we should be willing to commit our ways to the Lord. We should desire His provision of safety and his protection. With God in our boat, we can smile in the storms and the boisterous waves of life will not crush us. Like Noah, his family and the animals on board the ark, we will not be afraid of the terror by day and the tempest by night. For God will shut us in and keep us safe from evil.

Trust Him to calm the storm

My first ever trip on the sea was an excursion on the sea with a very large ship. That was in 2002. The experience was just so great. We experienced slight turbulence while on sea and some of my friends got so sick on board. The next experience was about 2 years later in 2004 at the same port and in a similar ship. Again, the experience was both good and bad. Ten years later (2014), I traveled on sea from Norway to Denmark and from Denmark back to Norway. It was a huge ship and there were more than 400 students on board. To be frank, I enjoyed the scenery and the journey until we experienced turbulence at night. Oh my! It was not a pleasant experience at all. I wondered how seafarers and fishermen survive in deep waters. They certainly deserve to be recognized. At one point myself and my roommates were all scared as the ship tilted sideways. Anyway, we made it and apparently that is normal to traveling on sea. Ah well, I hope to try again!

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:26)

If my experience on a big vessel was unpleasant, imagine fishing with a boat in the  1st Century and experiencing turbulence. In Matthew 8:23-26 (also recorded in Mark and Luke’s gospel), Jesus “got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” How could Jesus sleep on a cushion (according to Mark’s account) in that furious storm? The peace He had and the assurance that He would arrive at the other end was amazing. The disciples thought they would drown. How could they not have known? They were in the same boat with Jesus and still were scared for their lives. Thankfully, the winds and the waves heard the voice of the Lord and calmed down. 

I would have been flabbergasted! Imagine someone commanding the winds and the waves to calm down during my return trip from Denmark to Norway. The disciples were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27). In life, we face different kinds of storms each day. Sometimes, events in our lives feel like a horrendous storm about to break. Nothing seems to work and all our efforts prove futile. We feel like we’re trapped in a cage of nothingness and yet, we are unable to come out. The good news is, we have the Master over storms and ferocious situations as our Lord. He only comes when invited. Remember, He was sleeping when the tempest was roaring. He stilled the waves and the winds only when He was called. If you have not called Him yet, it is not too late. He is ready to come and calm every storm that is giving your life instability and tossing you back and forth. By His words, the storm will be stilled. Mark’s account (Mark 4:39) states that, “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” What manner of man commands the winds and the waves? Invite Him today and let him bring stillness to your raging storms. Trust in the Lord!