It's so natural to us to want to "do it my way." Little children beg, "Do it my way." A fast food chain appeals to customers with, "Have it your way." So it was perfectly natural for the captain of the Soviet freighter Meckanik Tarasov to want to be rescued his way, wasn't it?
Soon after the Meckanik Tarasov sent out a distress signal the Danish trawler Sigurfarid came along side and offered to evacuate the crew.
The captain looked at the ship—smaller than his own. He thought of the crew—Danish, not Russian. And he thought of a large Russian ship not far away—more comfortable, better equipped, and from his own country. So he sent the message to the Sigurfarid that he "preferred to wait" for the Ivan Dvorsky. He wanted to be rescued, but only in his way.
But: "While waiting—the vessel went down." His way led down into the cold, dark waters of the North Atlantic.
Only five seamen were saved, five men who were picked up by the Sigurfarid without waiting for the Ivan Dvorsky.
The Sigurfarid was standing by, ready and willing to save every one, but they would not. They wanted to be rescued in their own way, and only proved again the truth of Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12): "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." And "This their way is their folly!" Psalm 49:1313This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. (Psalm 49:13).
How can we know His way?
We can come to Him now, praying the psalmist's prayer: "Teach me Thy way, O Lord," and the answer is sure: "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine."
"Thy will, not mine, is always best—
Thy way, not mine, leads on to rest—
Then let Thy way, Thy will, be known;
My only Guide be Thou alone."