Fishing with God
Most of us have heard the story of Jesus sending Simon (Peter) out fishing after a night of no success. It is one of those stories that works well with Sunday School lesson plans. Like David and Goliath, the kids love stories with an element of danger or suspense. Here we have men who fished all night and caught nothing. Simon and his partners face the grim reality of the unpredictability of a livelihood dependent on the whim of a fish or the movement of the tide. I imagine these men were tired after working all night. Fishing back then was not an idle game of casting a line and waiting for the bobber to indicate you have a fish on the hook. This was not a recreational trip upon the water. This required all their muscles and strength to throw the large net and haul it back in again, and again. When Jesus approached the men to use their boat, they were just finishing up for the night. We are told they were washing their nets. They were prepared to go home for some much-needed sleep. Then Jesus appeared. Don’t you just love how God shows up just when we think we know what our next step will be?
Luke does not tell us, however we can assume, that Jesus accompanied the fishermen on their second foray onto the waves. Charles Spurgeon painted a picture of God with us in all we do when he said, “It is a blessed thing to see Christ sitting in the boat while you cast out the net. If you catch a glimpse of his approving smile as he watches you, you will work right heartily.” While these men who would give their lives in service of the Lord worked at the trade they had known all their lives, they watched the Messiah. They had no idea nothing would ever be the same.
The picture of this account stirs us to good works. When Simon, James, and John had worked in their own power at their own design and command, they failed. Their work was rigorous but unsuccessful. When they followed the command of God, they reaped more than their boat could hold. The same is true for you and I. We can do good work well and not see the success of one blessed by God. While Jesus was in the boat, they prospered. It reminds me of when Moses held his arms to the sky during the Israelites’ battle against the Amalekites in Exodus 17:8-13. Verse 11 says, “Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.” When we attempt to live in our own strength and power, we limit our success. When we fish with Jesus in our boat, we our over-run with blessings. The work is still the same. Effort is still required. The difference is the strength in which we do what we do. Our own strength gives out. Our own wisdom has flaws. God knows all, sees all, and has the perfect plan. Given a choice, wouldn’t you rather go fishing with God?
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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