And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. Acts 21:2

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To properly get the sense of the verbs, the verse should read, “And having found a ship passing over into Phoenicia, having boarded, we set sail” (CG).

In the previous verse, the missionaries departed from Miletus, ran a straight course to Cos, then to Rhodes, and then to Patara. With those stops complete, it next says, “And having found a ship passing over into Phoenicia.”

The need for a change of ship could be for several reasons. It may be that the one they had been on stopped at Patara for an extended stay. It also may have turned back, having reached the final leg of the journey it had planned. Or, it may have been a coasting vessel that would continue to skip along from port to port.

If so, by finding a new ship that would sail all the way to Phoenicia, the voyage would be cut shorter by quite a few days. It would sail across the open sea and directly to Tyre. Looking at a map, one can see that quite a bit of land is passed when taking this more direct vessel than a harbor hopper. Once they found a suitable ship, it next says, “having boarded, we set sail.”

The description of the sailing course will be described in the coming verse.

Life application: The choice of these missionaries to take the more direct route was because of Paul’s desire to be in Jerusalem by a set date. Taking this ship, rather than a harbor hopper, makes much more sense. Like their choice, in our lives, there is nothing wrong with setting goals and striving to attain them. In fact, living by the seat of one’s pants can often be a hindrance to achieving anything of real substance.

To meet a set goal, there normally needs to be specific planning of the target and the successive steps necessary to get there. The more detail in the steps, the less room for error there will be. However, one can plan something to the point where nothing ever gets done. That can be as much of a problem as having no plan at all.

The key to such things is balance. What is of the highest importance, and what can be left out of the details? From there, and with a plan set forth, all things should be accompanied by prayer. To set forth on a journey without prayer is arrogant. It lacks the notion that God is the ultimate Director of our lives.

We can make plans, but those plans can be easily frustrated by a simple slip on the first step of the journey. A slip, a fall, a chipped tooth and a broken leg, and all of the plans in the world will need to be tossed out the window. Proverbs says –

“Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.” Proverbs 37:5, 6

The obvious unstated words of the proverb are that the Lord will bring your plan to pass according to His wisdom, not necessarily your desired intent. But it will be what the Lord has ordained for you. This is also the intent of James’ words –

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16

Include the Lord in your plans. In so doing, you will do well.

Lord God, guide our steps at all times. We have plans and desires, but there is a greater plan that is being worked out in the world. You already know what will transpire. So may our lives be lived in accord with Your greater plan, even as we live out our lesser plans. May we not forget to include You in every step of this trek we are on. Amen.