Wisdom 14:1-16: a reflection

1Again, one preparing to sail, and about to journey over raging waves, calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than the vessel that carries him. 2For the hunger for profit planned it, and wisdom was the craftsman who built it. 3Your providence, O Father, guides it along, because even in the sea you gave a way, and in the waves a sure path, 4showing that you can save out of every danger, that even a man without skill may put to sea. 5It is your will that the works of your wisdom should not be ineffective. Therefore men also entrust their lives to a little piece of wood, and passing through the surge on a raft come safely to land. 6For in the old time also, when proud giants were perishing, the hope of the world, taking refuge on a raft, your hand guided the seed of generations of the race of men. 7For blessed is wood through which comes righteousness; 8but the idol made with hands is accursed, itself and he that made it; because his was the working, and the corruptible thing was called a god. 9For both the ungodly and his ungodliness are alike hateful to God; 10for truly the deed will be punished together with him who committed it. 11Therefore also there will be a visitation among the idols of the nation, because, though formed of things which God created, they were made an abomination, stumbling blocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the foolish. 12For the devising of idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life. 13For they didn’t exist from the beginning, and they won’t exist forever. 14For by the boastfulness of men they entered into the world, and therefore a speedy end was planned for them. 15For a father worn with untimely grief, making an image of the child quickly taken away, now honored him as a god which was then a dead human being, and delivered to those that were under him mysteries and solemn rites. 16Afterward the ungodly custom, in process of time grown strong, was kept as a law, and the engraved images received worship by the commandments of princes.

This passage reflects on a traveler who entrusts his life to a small piece of wood, a ship, to carry him over raging waves, and it sees in this a picture of God's providence: Your providence, O Father, guides it along, because even in the sea you gave a way, and in the waves a sure path, showing that you can save out of every danger. God has made a way even through the perilous sea, so that a traveler may cross the deep and come safely to land, held by a providence that guides him through the danger.

Notice the confidence in God's providence: even in the sea you gave a way, and in the waves a sure path. The sea is a place of danger, where a small vessel seems fragile against the vast and raging waters; yet the passage sees God's hand making a way through it, guiding the traveler safely across. God is able, it says, to save out of every danger; his providence reaches even into the perilous deep, making a sure path where there seems to be none.

That confidence steadies us as we cross our own dangers. Life carries us over deep and threatening waters, through perils where we feel as fragile as a small ship on a raging sea. But the God whose providence made a way through the sea can make a way through our dangers too; he is able to save out of every danger, and to bring us safely through what looks perilous. When you face waters that seem too deep and dangerous to cross, trust the providence of the Father who made a sure path through the sea. He can guide you safely through the danger, and bring you at last to land. Entrust your fragile crossing to the God who saves out of every danger.

Father, this passage sees your providence in the traveler carried safely over raging waves, and confesses that even in the sea you gave a way, and in the waves a sure path, showing that you can save out of every danger. Steady me with that confidence as I cross my own dangers. Life carries me over deep and threatening waters, through perils where I feel as fragile as a small ship on a raging sea. But you, whose providence made a way through the sea, can make a way through my dangers too; you are able to save out of every danger and to bring me safely through. When I face waters that seem too deep to cross, help me trust your providence, that you can guide me safely through and bring me at last to land. I entrust my fragile crossing to you, the God who saves out of every danger.