Fishing Lesson

The Fishing Lesson
By Charlotte Dixon
 
Have you ever been fishing? I have gone a few times with my dad when I was young. My brother had more of a knack for it than I did. Different ones have tried to teach me, but... In recent years, since I married, my husband has gone fishing and enjoys taking our kids, all three of which love it as a hobby, but me…I’m not a great fan. Why? It is tedious work…it requires patience and commitment in order to succeed.
 
In New Testament Biblical times, fishing was a way of life, not simply a hobby. It was the livelihood of some of the disciples…Peter, James, and John.
 
Luke 5:1-11
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God (here we see the people again pressing upon Him, crowding Him, just as they did when the woman with the issue of blood desired to be healed), he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. (The boats were not in use; the fishermen had given up for the day and had decided to wash out their nets. How many times do we give up just on the brink of a miracle…just about the time God would intervene…) And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. (Peter must have been obedient to move the boat a little way from the shore, willing to allow his boat to be used.) And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. (Jesus used Peter’s boat from which to teach the people). Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. (Peter had been willing to go a little way from shore, but now Jesus was asking him to go out deeper AND to let down the nets…not just a net, but all their nets…nets they had just washed, too!) And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing (Indeed, he was full of excuses! He told Jesus all about it, how they had worked all night and caught NOTHING): nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net (though Peter made his excuses, he was obedient to that which Jesus asked…notice, however, that Jesus asked him to let down their nets, plural, but Peter replied that he would let down the net, singular…what was the result?). And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake (Peter found what he had searched for all night long! But…see how the single net broke! In weak faith do we at times go to the Lord expecting little? Willing to be partially obedient…giving little…expecting little… This reminds me of the story of the small community whose crops were dying for lack of rain. The pastor asked them all to meet to pray that God would send rain. When the crowd gathered only ONE young girl believed enough to bring her umbrella. Anyway… the single net broke and surely some of the fish got away in the process…we cannot afford to lose any fish! Let us come boldly before the Lord expecting great and mighty things, coming PREPARED for the abundance that He is able to bring). And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them (Sometimes we need help… Are we willing to ask for help when we need it?). And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. (Look what Jesus did…The boats were both full to overflowing. Remember this…the One who filled their nets was ALSO the One on whom to call to keep their ships afloat. A lesson they would learn in time…) When Simon Peter saw it (he had his eyes open and recognized the miracle that had just taken place!), he fell down at Jesus' knees (he didn’t just kneel, but he FELL at Jesus’ knees in repentance), saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord (in his sinful condition he was ashamed to be in the presence of the Almighty. Jesus, however, had great and mighty plans for these lowly fishermen once they called upon Him). For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. (All those in the two ships were amazed at this thing that Jesus had been able to do that they had not been able to accomplish on their own after working all night!) And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. (Here we see the great and mighty plans Jesus had for not only Peter, but James and John as well). And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. (Jesus had plans for them, but it was up to them to forsake the things that were important to them in order to follow Him…what did they forsake? If you look at the lives of these disciples, they forsook ALL in order to follow the one who could give them EVERYTHING).
 
Jesus was the Master Teacher, using things in nature…flowers, water, sparrows, trees, dirt, and even fish…to teach deep spiritual truths that people could understand, that they were familiar with. No other means would have been as effective as fish to these men who fished for a living. What circumstances do you face that Jesus may be trying to use to teach you…to help you better serve Him?
 

Charlotte Dixon