(Acts Chapter 27)
“Captain, is there no way we can save this ship without throwing the cargo overboard? These containers are my entire life!” I was shouting and screaming. How in the world is this happening to me?
I am a business man. I buy and sell goods...
I bring in these goods in containers every 3 months. The turnover is good and I live a fairly comfortable life.
Until today.
I was not the only one. Alhaji Sambo has loads of containers with exotic vehicles for his clients...
The captain’s voice jolted me back to reality...
And that was it.
By an executive fiat, the ship’s captain ordered the containers to be offloaded into the sea. We all stood there, watching all our lives work thrown away…
Chief Emeka turned and stared at him. I could see the anger in his eyes...
The captain tried defending himself: “But Chief, you must know that I have been sailing for over 30 years, been the captain of this ship for 10. I have over 20,000 knots…”
Chief’s eyes were blazing by now...
Who cares how many knots you have? The problem with you people is, you trust too much in your knowledge! How did an ordinary prisoner see this storm and you, an experienced sailor didn’t? what does he know that you don’t?
What comfort can you give us? It would be double trouble if we lose our goods and lose our lives!
What is the way forward now? This storm is not relenting and it seems it is even getting worse.”
The captain said he had sent out some May Day calls and he is sure help is on the way...
Suddenly I had an idea: “Where is that prisoner? If he could perceive this storm a few days before it happened, he may know what is ahead of us. Please, bring him out, he may be able to perceive something else!”
The Captain approached him: “Good day sir…”
In that moment, a wry smile played on my lips...
He even asked him sarcastically, “You perceive my ship will hit a storm?
Now, same captain is calling same prisoner, “Sir”!
What an irony.
“Sir, sorry for not taking your advice before we sailed. Please, do you have any idea what will happen to us all?”
The prisoner smiled...
Ah! Now he’s rubbing it in.
He continued, “If you had, you wouldn’t have lost all these goods. But don’t worry, gentlemen- nobody will die in this storm...
He winked.
This guy has a strange sense of humor!
“The angel of God whose I am and who I serve stood by me this night and told me God will spare all your lives because of me...!
Wow.
Just wow.
This guy hears from God?
Interesting!
Next time I hear anyone say, “I perceive…” I will do well to take him seriously!
😁😁😁
Shalom!
Haruna Daniels