Have you ever done everything right but ended up with nothing? Or, even worse, wound up with less than you started with? How can this happen? Why does this happen?
Peter knew how to fish. Peter’s father had been a fisherman and so had his grandfather. In fact, Peter’s family had probably been fishing on the Sea of Galilee ever since the tribe of Naphtali had settled there some 1500 years earlier. He knew how to fish.
On one occasion, Peter and his partners had been fishing all night. They had done everything right: night time was best, they used light to attract the fish, they new the best places, their nets were well maintained and strong – and yet they caught nothing. Frustrated and tired, they finally gave up, dragged their tired bodies back to shore and began the wearisome task of cleaning the empty nets.
A little while later, Jesus showed up and told Peter to go out again and let down the nets for a catch. Peter would have been within his rights to ignore the instructions of a wandering preacher with a background in carpentry. But Peter acceded to the nonsensical, pointless and bothersome instruction and – wouldn’t you know it – caught so many fish that there wasn’t enough room in the boats for them all.
Peter was amazed – to say the least. He immediately recognized Jesus as Lord and as Messiah.
But what would have happened if Peter’s night of fishing had been typically successful, a night as usual? Peter would not have been needful of Jesus’ direction and he would certainly not have been awed by the miraculous. He would not have subsequently left everything to follow Jesus and eventually change the world. God’s hand was as present during the night of failure as it was during the miracle in the morning. This was the hand of God’s love and it brought Peter into close friendship with Jesus and wound up making him everything that God had dreamt of Peter being.
Some people might see this as manipulative and/or mean on God’s part. Why did God have to cause failure and loss in Peter’s life and then sweep in as Peter’s rescuer? Because Peter was lost and failing long before that night and God is the only Rescuer. Peter just needed to see that and God loved Peter enough to point it out. I know Peter didn’t mind in the end.
How about you? Have you suffered any pain or loss – or just frustration – when you’ve done everything right? Is God asking you to go do something illogical, nonsensical, even bothersome and pointless? Could it be that it is actually logical, sensible and, most of all, loving? Just be prepared for more than you could ever imagine.
Peter knew how to fish. Peter’s father had been a fisherman and so had his grandfather. In fact, Peter’s family had probably been fishing on the Sea of Galilee ever since the tribe of Naphtali had settled there some 1500 years earlier. He knew how to fish.
On one occasion, Peter and his partners had been fishing all night. They had done everything right: night time was best, they used light to attract the fish, they new the best places, their nets were well maintained and strong – and yet they caught nothing. Frustrated and tired, they finally gave up, dragged their tired bodies back to shore and began the wearisome task of cleaning the empty nets.
A little while later, Jesus showed up and told Peter to go out again and let down the nets for a catch. Peter would have been within his rights to ignore the instructions of a wandering preacher with a background in carpentry. But Peter acceded to the nonsensical, pointless and bothersome instruction and – wouldn’t you know it – caught so many fish that there wasn’t enough room in the boats for them all.
Peter was amazed – to say the least. He immediately recognized Jesus as Lord and as Messiah.
But what would have happened if Peter’s night of fishing had been typically successful, a night as usual? Peter would not have been needful of Jesus’ direction and he would certainly not have been awed by the miraculous. He would not have subsequently left everything to follow Jesus and eventually change the world. God’s hand was as present during the night of failure as it was during the miracle in the morning. This was the hand of God’s love and it brought Peter into close friendship with Jesus and wound up making him everything that God had dreamt of Peter being.
Some people might see this as manipulative and/or mean on God’s part. Why did God have to cause failure and loss in Peter’s life and then sweep in as Peter’s rescuer? Because Peter was lost and failing long before that night and God is the only Rescuer. Peter just needed to see that and God loved Peter enough to point it out. I know Peter didn’t mind in the end.
How about you? Have you suffered any pain or loss – or just frustration – when you’ve done everything right? Is God asking you to go do something illogical, nonsensical, even bothersome and pointless? Could it be that it is actually logical, sensible and, most of all, loving? Just be prepared for more than you could ever imagine.
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