Snakebites and Promises

Paul and the crew and the rest of the prisoners. Shipwrecked. Swam to shore or hung on to debris and floated to shore. Arriving safely, but cold and wet. Most likely with nothing but the clothes on their backs; thankful to be met by friendly faces. (the people on the island could have been cannibals) A promise kept.  Thinking a fire would be in order, they decided to gather wood to build one.  And, wouldn't you know it--a dirty, rotten, no-good-for-nothin' poisonous snake, driven out of the pile of wood by the heat, planted his venomous fangs into Paul's flesh. I'm sure it hurt. Maybe he even cussed (after all, he had been hanging out with sailors). Or maybe he was too refined and godly to cuss, I'm not sure. Wide-eyed and breathless, the islanders stood motionless as Paul flung the serpent into the fire. And they waited. Waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. No one offered medical assistance. Not even a band aid. They knew what should have happened. What they didn't know was that God had given Paul a promise. A promise that he would stand before Caesar in Rome, and he wasn't there yet. So, while there was still pain in the journey (and in his hand), he chose to trust God.
 I can't help but wonder if Paul shook his head when the ugly serpent reared its head. Not another crisis. Not more pain. Wasn't it enough that he had been falsely accused? That he had lost his freedom? That he had lost everything and had almost drowned? And now? Just when he thought things would get better...the serpent. It reminds me of that first serpent. The bite that brought the first death. But, just as Paul flung that snake into the fire, so shall Christ fling that Serpent into the fiery pit of destruction. And just when we think we can't handle one. more. thing, God will step in and rescue us from death through His Son. And we can trust Him to do what He promises He will do. And though we may not understand, nor agree, nor have eyes to see what is in the woodpile, His promises hold firm. We can trust Him in spite of our circumstances.        Acts 28

Signed, Just a (Redeemed) Sojourner from Egypt