24 Aug, 2006
FISHERMEN REACH LAND
Three Mexican fishermen who say they spent nine months adrift on the Pacific Ocean finally reached dry land when the Taiwanese fishing boat that rescued them arrived at a remote island chain halfway around the world from their homeland.
The trio landed on Monday in the Marshall Islands aboard the boat that pulled them from the ocean on Aug. 9, and after a medical checkup were found well enough to return to Mexico by airplane.
"I'm well, very well," said Salvador Ordonez, who answered "of course" when asked if he would go back to sea. "I've always worked on the sea," the 37-year old Ordonez said.
Asked what happened to two boatmates who they said died during the ordeal, he told the Televisa news network that one, whom they knew only as "Juan" didn't want to eat raw food. Eventually he and another man died, and the three survivors threw their bodies overboard, Ordonez said.
Jesus Vidana, 27, said the two dead men had hired the other three to make the fishing trip, and denied speculation the five may have set out to pick up drugs at sea, an activity not uncommon on Mexico's Pacific coast, which often serves as a transhipment point to the US.
"That's wrong because we set out to catch sharks," Vidana said.
The three survivors said heavy winds carried them out to sea, where they survived by catching and eating raw fish and drinking rain water. To pass the hours, they claim to have read the Bible and prayed for survival.
The group had planned on a short fishing expedition and was carrying only flashlights and a compass at the time they disappeared.
The fishermen have become instant folk heroes in Mexico.
photo & story courtesy taipeitimes.com, 8/23/06
Fishermen Rescued After Nine Months At Sea
What does today's God's Story teach us about God rescuing people?
When you quickly read today's scripture, it seems to say that God is always going to deliver us (Christ's followers) from trouble.
This is another example of why it's so important to study all of God's Word and why some verses can be misunderstood if they are read out of the full context.
One of the themes of Proverbs is the difference between the life of a godly person and an ungodly person. Not every verse is a promise from God, but rather a general truth that is intended to challenge people to live for God rather than themselves.
Today's verses point out two different paths in life but they don't apply to everyone in every circumstance. Trouble is still a normal part of life for God's people. Even if we are abiding in Jesus every day, we're still going to experience problems and the need to be delivered.
If we follow the path of God's wisdom, we can be confident that God will ultimately rescue us, but it may mean that we experience ongoing suffering until He rescues us from this earthly life and takes us home to His eternal Heaven.
But a wicked person will continue to make their own trap of destruction, without the hope of being delivered for eternity. Sobering, isn't it?
Without knowing the true spiritual condition of the Mexican fishermen, you have to like their claim to have read the Bible and that they prayed for survival. Doing the same will help us stay on the path of Godly wisdom.
We can always pray for God to deliver us, but are we willing trust Him for His ultimate rescue?
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Praise God that He has the ultimate, perfect plan for your life! Ask Him to give you the faith you need to always be ready and willing for the "ultimate rescue". As His child, if you need some sort of rescue in your life, ask Him for it right now. Thank God that because of Christ in your life, you can look forward to eternal life, even if it's not God's plan to deliver you from your earthly trouble right now.
- In your journal, keep track of how God delivers you from different troubles in your life. Review this every week to see what God is doing and what you are learning.
- Try reading through the book of Proverbs in one month. One chapter a day will help you see the big picture of God's truths.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Pray for a Christ-like attitude toward others and their troubles, because God may want to use you to help rescue someone.
- Lots of movies and tv shows have a rescue theme. When watching with family and friends who need Jesus, look for the opportunity to share your story of how Jesus rescued you.
- Share today's DAILYBIDE with another follower of Jesus who needs some encouragement while waiting to be delivered by God.
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