I assume that most individuals know the difference between embarkation and disembarkation. As more and more people are going on cruises, we have felt the excitement of either getting on (embarking) or getting off (disembarking) the ship. There are great lessons to be learned from looking at disembarkations in the Bible.
Worshiping God After You Leave. If I were to ask you who was the first person who left a ship in Biblical history, I suspect that you would know it was Noah. His “ocean cruise” shows us what is truly important as we “cruise” every day of our lives. God was with Noah, and He is with us.
When God shut the door of the ark, we might tend to think in terms of a heavenly hand reaching down and securing Noah and his family safely in the ark as the door closed. Look carefully at the text. God did not tell Noah to go into the ark, but to come into the ark. God was inside the ark awaiting Noah. He was never alone inside that vessel.
Does it surprise you what Noah did immediately upon leaving the ark? He built an altar and worshiped God. Whenever we are living conscious of His presence, worship is not an afterthought. Worship is what we long to do!
Serving God After You Leave. There is another Bible account of what an individual did after disembarking. He actually was on two ocean going vessels, but neither “cruise” was enjoyable. Jonah’s two vessels were the ship he boarded in Joppa, and the belly of the great fish God made. God was part of both “cruises.” He made the storm and made the great fish.
Look at what Jonah did after he “disembarked.” He realized that God was sovereign and obeyed Him even doing what he had been refusing to do. Sometimes we struggle to do what God says, but this event shows us that the Lord will not change His will because it is hard for us to do! The message after the two “cruises” was identically the same as it was before. God help us to learn this eternal truth.
Trusting God After You Leave. The final disembarkation happened on the Sea of Galilee. In the midst of the storm Jesus came walking to His disciples who were being tossed about and in dire trouble. Peter’s faith was strong enough to step from the boat, but when his fear of the waves became greater than his faith he began to sink. The Lord heard his short prayer and reached out to save him. Never overlook the faith that the apostle showed and remember that the Lord accepts us, even with faltering faith.
So, throughout your cruise, live so at the “final port” you will have worshiped Him, served Him and trusted Him.