A rudder is what allows a ship to be maneuvered through the water. While the sails propel the ship forward. These two together allow a ship to be navigated in any direction the captain chooses. But take these away and no course can be set. The ship then will only follow the currents and winds. Leaving the captain with absolutely no control.
A ship missing either of these key components sounds like one that nobody would ever want to find themselves on. All of us have a destination in mind. Somewhere we are trying to get to and often we believe we must get there at a certain time. So we would never think to step on to a ship that can’t be controlled by someone onboard. Then add in the fear that would come with never knowing where you were going and the complete loss of all feeling of control. But interestingly enough it was a ship built without a rudder or sail that safely cared Noah and his family through the biggest storm our world has ever known.
Genesis 6:14–16 (ESV)
14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks.
Genesis 6:22 (ESV)
22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
If you take a moment to read through the building plan for the ark provided in scripture something quickly becomes apparent. Noah had absolutely no way to control the massive ship. The ark was built in such a way that all it could do is go where the current and wind took it. That is except for the fact that it was God who controlled exactly where the ship went. So all Noah could do was rely on the Lord. Load up the ship and see where the Lord would take them. God keep Noah and his family safe throughout the storm and landed them right where He wanted them on the other side.
Genesis 8:15–18 (ESV)
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him.
If we are all honest we often try to live our lives as the captain of our own ship. We want our hand to be the one firmly planted on the rudder. With our sails full and carrying us towards our next destination. Following the course that we have carefully and thoughtfully plotted out. Simply put we want to be in complete control of our lives and the direction it is going.
But is this really the way scripture teaches Christians should live? Or shouldn’t we choose to build our lives as Noah built the ark? Forgoing the adding of a sail or rudder. Relinquishing all control of our lives to God. Allowing Him to navigate the waters of life for us. So we can always end up right where He wants us to be when it is best for us to be there. Placing all our trust in Him as our captain because He knows what always lies ahead. Because He will work all things for our good always taking us to the right place.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Before our salvation, we had to build our lives with a rudder and a sail if we ever wanted to get anywhere. As we had no other driving force in our life. But as Christians, we no longer need those things because we have God. Who is all-knowing and can see every storm before they form. In fact, the winds and waves are even under His control. God will never leave us no matter how rough the water may get. He will stand with us through it all.
Psalm 147:5 (ESV)
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
Isaiah 42:9 (ESV)
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”
Matthew 8:26–27 (ESV)
26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
It’s scary to think about remodeling the ship and giving up all your control. Letting go of the rudder and sail is by no means easy, but is something we must do to follow God. As long as we have them we will want to use them and inevitably altering the course God has set. Eventually fighting with Him for control. Only to take ourselves to places we never should have gone.
It’s time to start living like a ship without a sail, or a rudder. Fully trusting in the Lord as we are taught to do throughout the Bible. When we let go and let God guide us through life we will always end up in the right place at the right time. Truly find our life by letting go of it.
Matthew 10:39 (ESV)
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Please understand though that this does not mean sitting all day waiting for God to physically move you. Giving God control of your life means living according to His word. It means not making decisions that alter the course of your life without going to the Lord in prayer. No longer living based on your own wants and desires but what God wants and desires for you.
When we hand control of our lives to God it is a sign of our faith and the trust we place in Him. It proves that we do not simply claim to trust Him but that we truly do. Our lives will only improve with God steering the ship. He will never lead us into danger. Like we see with Noah, God will always carry those who rely on Him safely through the storm. God’s leading will also lead to blessing as it even did for Noah and His family. They were blessed because they were spared when the world was destroyed. We will receive that very same blessing by allowing God to lead us. As we have the promise of eternal life in Heaven. The greatest blessing imaginable.
Genesis 9:1 (ESV)
1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
1 John 2:17 (ESV)
7 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
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