How does Acts 27:11 connect with Proverbs 3:5-6 on trusting God? Setting the Scene: Acts 27:11 in One Sentence “But the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship rather than by what Paul said.” Human Expertise vs. Divine Counsel • The centurion had three voices in his ear: – The experienced pilot – The wealthy shipowner – The apostle carrying God’s revealed word • His choice? Follow the seasoned seamen, dismiss the man of God. • Proverbs 14:12 — “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” – The “seems right” path often wears the uniform of expertise and common sense. Proverbs 3:5-6 at the Core • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” • Two commands, one promise: 1. Trust wholly. 2. Stop leaning on mere human insight. → Result: God Himself clears the route. Connecting the Dots • Acts 27:11 shows a living illustration of what happens when Proverbs 3:5-6 is ignored. – The centurion leaned on nautical know-how; a storm and shipwreck followed (vv. 14-44). • Paul, by contrast, clung to divine direction: – Acts 27:23-25 — “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me… ‘Take courage…’ Therefore take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.” – Paul trusted; God preserved every life on board (v. 44), straightening their path to Malta. Wider Scriptural Echoes • Psalm 118:8 — “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.” • Jeremiah 17:7 — “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.” • James 1:5 — “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God… and it will be given.” • Isaiah 55:8-9 — God’s thoughts and ways tower above ours. Take-Home Insights for Daily Choices • Expertise is valuable, but never absolute. Submit it to God’s word first. • Crisis reveals our functional trust: whose voice steers the wheel? • Like Paul, cultivate a settled conviction: “I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.” • Trusting God does not bypass storms; it carries us through them with purpose and preservation. |
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