Strength for Swimming

~Acts 27.18, 20-21

The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. . . . . The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, . . . . "Take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down."

~Acts 27.33-39

Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard. When morning dawned, . . . they saw a bay with a beach . . . .

I don't know if people weren't eating because they felt seasick from the rolling of the boat in the storm or because they had given up hope of life. Apparently available food on board was nothing highly desired or some may have wanted it just for the comfort in a perilous time or even for enjoyment, like a last meal indulgence; "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you die."

At any rate, when Paul shared with them that an angel had come to him in the night with assurance that all would live, hope was renewed and they were able to follow his example and eat. The food gave them strength--which they were about to need for swimming to shore! In our day and culture, food is so abundant that we don't often think of it as giving strength. In fact, we have such a wealth of eats available on every hand, that we over-consume and strength is sapped when we slip into post-meal lethargy.

Ananias, praying man and ordinary guy

Ananias prayed often. This secret time with the Father guided all he did and was the only way he could carry the load he felt for the new church in Damascus. Great numbers of converts to the faith were joining believers who had come fleeing persecution in Jerusalem. It was an exciting time, seeing people set free from their sin and sickness, seeing relationships healed, seeing the Kingdom of God come. Some days Ananias could hardly believe he was privileged to be part of it.

But it was also a time of grave danger. The new faith had enemies who were serious about stopping the spread of this “rumor,” this “legend,” that the long-awaited Messiah had come at last. Not content with just killing Jesus, religious leaders were now after everyone who believed in him, both Jews and Gentiles.

Prayer was a lifeline. One day as this godly man came before his God, he felt more than the usual urgency. “What is it, Lord?” he asked and tried to quiet his own thoughts to listen.

Ananias felt himself slipping into a dream state as a vision unfolded. God called his name. He heard it.

“Here I am, Lord!”

“Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Ananias’ heartbeat sped up.

“Lord,” he answered, “We know of this Saul of Tarsus. I have heard reports of the evil he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And we hear he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

Ananias’ heart was pounding now. Surely there was some mistake.

But the Lord said, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Someone outside his room sneezed and Ananias was back in the present moment, the material world. The voice of the Lord was silent and his own thoughts were shouting. Saul of Tarsus here already! On Straight Street! Praying. And blind. Hadn’t the Lord said he was blind? Yes, he was sure of it. What did it mean? Would answering this call be a death warrant?

He wrestled with his thoughts, but in the end Ananias knew he would obey. As he walked toward Straight Street, he recited.

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols—worship him, all you gods!
Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, LORD.
For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

As he walked toward this divine encounter, the Holy Spirit strengthened Ananias in purpose. What happened to him did not matter. He was only a servant, a slave of Christ. If God chose to release him into the hands of this killer, so be it. The Kingdom must advance. He got to be part of it!

The Spirit had also shown Ananias more details of Saul’s experience on the road: the flash of light, the vision of Jesus. By the time he reached Straight Street, Ananias did not for a second doubt that he was in the right place at the right time, and that indeed he was about to meet the infamous Saul of Tarsus.

“Is there a man named Saul here?” he asked at the door of the roomy house which often hosted guests.

“Yes, yes,” said Judas. “He came several days ago. How did you know? The man has barely spoken and not eaten a bite.” Judas led Ananias to a back room where a lifeless looking young man sat head in hands.

This was the terrible persecutor? The room was quiet as Ananias approached. Suddenly he was filled with compassion for this lost soul who had so much misplaced devotion to God. “Brother Saul,” he said gently, putting his weathered hands on the shoulders of the young scholar, “the Lord—-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

The face turned upward. “Yes,” said Saul. “He told me you would come.”

Ananias prayed, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” and immediately Saul’s eyes were opened, his vision restored.

Ananias prophesied, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

They found water. Saul was baptized that day. After taking some food, he regained his strength. And Ananias said, “Thank you, Lord.”

A Time to Fast and a Time to Eat

~Acts 9.9, 17-19 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. . . . . Then Ananias went to the house . . . something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Love this story. About food, we see here again that there is a time--for spiritual purposes--not to eat, and a time to eat again. Although over-eating can deprive us of health and energy, eating properly gives us strength.

Workers deserve their food.

~Matthew 10.10

Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.

~II Timothy 2.6

And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

This reminds me of a similar verse often quoted by one of our daughters. Whenever Ellen or Audrey was cleaning, or more often cooking, they would remind me that I shouldn't “muzzle the ox" to keep it from eating as it worked. (The verse in Deuteronomy 25:4 says "treads out the grain.") This meant they should have unlimited blobs of dough as they made cookies, for example. This rationale worked fine until I started seeing bad news about salmonella in raw eggs. After that, it was only on occasional times I happened to have the pasteurized eggs in a box that that snack was allowed.

(Yes, I know the risk is low for strong, healthy, non-pregnant people, but since I was the one responsible for doctor visits and dealing with the misery of any diarrhea that occurred, I didn't see it as a risk worth taking.)