If those on the ship had listened to Paul, they would not have lost their ship and all their
merchandise. Failing to heed his warning, however, they eventually had to throw everything
overboard. Finally, all hope that they should be saved was gone. But in the midst of such
calamity, Paul stood his ground because he had heard from heaven.
ACTS 27:23,24
23 ... there stood by me this night the ANGEL OF GOD, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul . . . GOD HATH GIVEN THEE ALL THEM THAT SAIL WITH
THEE. Paul said, "The ship will be lost, but if you listen to what I say and remain with
the ship, you will not die."
You see, they were about to leave the ship, but because of the revelation Paul brought forth
from the angel of God, everyone stayed with the ship, and not one of them perished. This
wisdom concerning the future Paul had was by supernatural revelation. God revealed it to
Paul, and Paul in turn revealed to those who were on the ship with him what was going to
happen. Even though an angel delivered the message or revelation, it was a supernatural
revelation from God.
Conditional Words of Wisdom
There were some incidents in the Old Testament when a prophet received a word from God
which did not come to pass. Some manifestations of the word of wisdom are conditional,
depending upon the person's obedience.
For example, in the case of Hezekiah the king, God told Isaiah to go and give him a word of
wisdom concerning the future — the plan and purpose of God for Hezekiah's life under the
present conditions. Isaiah was to tell Hezekiah, ". . . Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die,
and not live" (2 Kings 20:1).
Isaiah delivered the message and then went his way. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall,
repented of his wrongdoings, cried and prayed to God, and reminded God that he had walked
before God wholeheartedly in times past. He told God that he had kept His commandments
even though he had missed it in certain areas. And Hezekiah repented.
Then before Isaiah even got out of the courtyard, the word of the Lord came to Isaiah again,
telling him to go back and give Hezekiah another word of wisdom. It was a word of wisdom
because it still concerned the future. God said to Isaiah, TeH Hezekiah I am going to give him
fifteen more years" (2 Kings 20:5,6).
This first prophecy or word of wisdom, and even the second prophecy or word of wisdom
which were given to Hezekiah, were conditional.
According to the first word of wisdom, under the existing conditions, Hezekiah was going to
die. This promise was conditional, however. In other words, if Hezekiah had not repented, he
would have died.
According to the second word of wisdom, Hezekiah would be spared and fifteen years would
be added to his life. And it may have been that Hezekiah could have changed the latter part of
this word of wisdom regarding the fifteen years that were to be added to him, just as he had
changed the first part (Isa. 43:26).