So what happens when we reach shore, exhausted, starved, soaked and miserable but elated? It's all wonderful afterwards right? Surviving the storm is the hard part/ Wrong. The hard part has really only just begun. Now comes the time to get up and deal with the aftermath. We have to accept our losses and go on without them or work on restoring or replacing what we no longer have that we need. We have to get to the task of meeting the needs of the now rather than rest and recover. We may be exhausted and wounded but have to help others, because we rarely go through storms alone, no matter what it feels like.
Paul survived his shipwreck and his obedience and boldness to share the word of God saved the crew and everyone else. He is praised and told to relax while everyone took care of him. Perhaps that what should have happened, But it's not. By verse three of chapter 28, Paul is gathering wood and building a fire. He went to work. Often that's the way it is. We may feel we need and deserve rest as a reward for making it to shore, but no. Then to top it off, everyone is watching us to see what happens next.
There are always superstitious natives watching. You know them. You just sailed through a hurricane that in no way was your fault and here comes someone looking at you like you should be on the bottom of the sea. Storms happen for a reason, and the reason is god's punishment for some infraction. Yes, I know that was a little "g." Because those folks are so busy worshiping and attempting to appease a false god that tolerates them at best and is out to get them at worst that they fail to see the provision and grace of a loving God that saved everyone on the sinking ship. So you make it through and everyone is trying to figure out what you did to cause the storm, whispering ideas behind your back while they stare. Sheesh. I thought things were supposed to be better when the rain stopped.
Suddenly as you go about meeting the needs the storm has caused and helping to care for the other survivors the worst thing imaginable happens. You think the worst is over now that you reached shore and instead the storm turns out to be the act 1 little conflict before the climaxing crisis of act 2 makes it look like nothing. We're supposed to be safe and sound. We're working and helping, doing the next right thing and not being selfish. That means things have to improve, doesn't it? Well Paul went to work in verse three, and in verse 4 he's standing by the fire with a viper hanging from his hand. How often has it happened that we overcome something just in time to get hit with worse. Life really can be like the movies where something along the lines of a pedestrian nearly getting run over by a bicyclist. He narrowly escapes being hit, takes a breath, smiles and is promptly smashed by a truck.
We survive shipwreck and make it safely to shore. We haven't ever finished thanking God for saving us from the sea as we build a fire to warm and dry everyone. Snake bit. Seriously? Seriously God!? Did You save me from drowning to die from venom instead? With the Israelites it was "God did You save us from slavery in Egypt to die in the desert? God did You save me from death by overdose so I could go to prison before the gave? It's so natural and easy to cry out in fear and despair at this point. To feel that God has deserted us. After all, we're still wet and there's a freaking snake hanging from our hand. It just went from bad to worse.
Don't forget the superstitious natives. Now they're talking in front of you like you're already dead. Not even worrying about you knowing or hiding behind your back anymore. See, I told you Paul was not only a prisoner but someone evil, evil, evil like a murderer. He might have survived the storm, but he won't escape god's wrath and judgement. He's dead, as it should be. Paul's natives. See, some have said after storms, Dalyn talks a good game, but if he were really walking with God such and such disaster wouldn't have happened. So much for Unshackled Life Ministries. He can't keep preaching after this. He must have done something to make that snake crawl out of the sticks and bite his hand. Blah, blah, blah. You've had it done to you. And you, like me, may also be guilty of not only doing it to others but joining the chorus in claiming that this new disaster is what you deserve. It's difficult to avoid self-pity when there's a snake hanging from your hand. I know, I've been there.
But Paul did what we should all do at that point. He stayed calm and trusted God. He didn't see the snake bite as God turning on him but rather as something to show once and for all that it wasn't luck that saved them from the storm but the provision of a loving Father. We see the snake bite as worse than the storm because it is more deadly and happens before we've even caught our breath. Severity and timing make the second crisis worse than the first. Yet, we have an entire chapter devoted to the storm and the ship breaking apart. The snake gets three verses. Turns out the truck really is less dangerous than the bicycle despite how it looks and feels. Paul stayed calm and trusted God and simply shook the serpent into the flames. He reacted like the viper was about the same minor annoyance as a mosquito. He continued handling his responsibilities and doing what he was supposed to do. He didn't get distracted from his duty or his service.
We want to sit down and cry when we get snake bit while trying to warm and dry ourselves and others after our storms. We may even despair to the point of saying good, I've been snake bit. Maybe I can finally die and the crazy journey of bad to worse that is my life will be over. Instead we need to remember that God doesn't toy with anyone, not even enemies. If He saves someone it's to bring them closer to Him, to display His provision and power. It's never because He decided the storm wasn't bad enough and wants to kill them more creatively. Like Paul, we need to shake it off and continue to do as we should. If we remember who brought us to shore and why, we don't have to fear the venom. And now those superstitious natives are really paying attention.
The only problem is they still don't get it. Now they see Paul as a god for surviving the viper. Anyone might get lucky enough to swim ashore after shipwreck, or even float in hanging to pieces from the destruction. But no one survives the venom! He must be special. And that attitude from the natives was far more dangerous and deadly for Paul than the snake. In all the letters he wrote he never mentioned a fear or problem with snakes, but his ego was an issue that could distract him from the truth. The same is true for us. The danger isn't in whatever snake we find hanging from our hand. The danger comes in getting the praise and credit for not getting dead. Like we saved ourselves. I have to remember this one when I receive praise for overcoming addiction;. I didn't. I didn't beat drugs. They defeated me repeatedly. God set me free. Like Paul I just didn't die, and that was totally about God, not some special antivenom in the bloodstream.
Paul redirected the praise to God and got to minister to a leader of the island. We need to be quick to do the same, to transform the dangerous ego venom into praise for God. We have an opportunity at the point the snake hits the fire and dies instead of us to bring the natives out of superstition and into relation with the Real God. It might even open doors to further service for God.
Sometimes life does go from bad to worse. We're not doing anything wrong, in fact, we're doing exactly what we're supposed to be doing and the storm rages, the ship breaks apart, and just when it should be finally getting better we get snake bit. People are judging and criticizing and blaming us. They're also using what we're going through to bolster and confirm their false ideas about the Father. Just keep trusting Daddy and keep doing what you're doing. Shake the snake off and enjoy the miracle. But remember that even that isn't the end. When people cheer, make sure they're cheering for the One who deserves it, and watch the doors that you would never have seen, much less be able to walk through open up. Our storms and snakes may feel like disasters, but they're just the set up for us to be able to show the truth of the love of God for us and for the superstitious onlookers. Don't give up. Don't despair. Don't react negatively to the critical audience, and don't fall prey to ego when the miracles of your life takes them from judging you to praising you. Point them to Jesus.
One final thought about that last paragraph. Also don't forget that we can be our own worse superstitious native. Remember the truth that it is the love, provision and grace of God that got you through the storms of the past. The snake hanging from your hand isn't God out to get you, it isn't about you at all. It's about superstitious god worshipers getting a glimpse of who God really is. And when you stay calm and shake the snake into the blaze, beware the big head. It's nothing special about you that made you immune to the venom. When the self praise and self assurance comes redirect it even faster if possible than the praise of others. The siren's call of self reliance and pride can pull you back into the sea to drown. No, trust God. Uses everything, even the disasters to seek a glimpse of who God really is and how miraculous He's acted on your behalf, shake off the snake. Give God the glory, and then continue on in service to God and others as doors you never knew existed open to you.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
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