Thought for the Month

Vasco da Gama (1460‑1524) is probably the most well‑known historic figure from Portugal. He was an "adventurous navigator who discovered the sea route to India in 1498 by doubling the Cape of Good Hope." (Pears Cyclopaedia) It was a major undertaking. He left Portugal on 8 July 1497 with two vessels the Sao Gabriel and Sao Rafael, rounding the rough seas around the Cape of Good Hope and landing in India on 20 May 1498. He made a few visits to India in his life dying there in 1524. In sailing vessels it was a long and dangerous route with pauses to wait for safer sailing conditions. Hence the use of seas in picture language usually denotes trouble, peril and uncertainty.

Peril at sea extends to our day. In the spring a vessel hit a bridge in Baltimore harbour in the USA, leading to the collapse of the bridge and the death of workmen on the bridge. The loss of life could have been much worse if it was during work hours. The RNLI* estimates about a quarter of a million die at sea every year.

Jonah experienced the dangers of the seas when he left Israel for Tarshish. The vessel was one similar to the ship on the front cover which was commonly used in the time of Jonah. The storm was bad and the waters were not calm when they emptied the ship and finally tossed Jonah overboard. Paul also experienced the danger at sea when he was shipwrecked on Malta. (Acts 27) But God ensured they landed alive even if the ship was in pieces on the rocks. (Acts 28:1)

The sea does have its benefits. Seafood forms a large part of the diet of many people. Many a happy holiday is had at the seaside. For trade, ocean‑going container vessels transport goods from the other side of the planet. It also forms an essential part in bringing rainwater as water condenses over the oceans and seas to form clouds which rain on the mountains, hills and plains on each country bringing much needed drinking water for humankind and for the crops to grow in the fields and valleys.

There will come a time when there is "no more sea." (Rev.21:1) It is a time of blessing, education and peace when there is an opportunity to live in harmony with God and with the world He created with his son Jesus. (Isa.25:9; 32:17) That will be in the Messianic age when Christ’s government is operating from Jerusalem. (Isa.2:1‑4)

The promises in Isaiah are a source of strength and encouragement to God’s people—past and present. They are a source of comfort too in these uncertain times in which we are living now.

* RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institute