No Surprise

“But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” – Matthew 17:27

Some leaders had just asked Peter if Jesus paid the temple tax. Peter replied that he did. Not long after Jesus told Peter that it seemed odd the the Son of God would need to pay the temple tax. Jesus however, not wanting to offend, says that they will pay the tax and sends Peter on a little fishing expedition. Catch a fish and take the coin from the mouth of the fish and pay the tax.

Peter had to have been thinking, “Umm. OK.”

So Peter goes, by himself, and goes fishing. For one fish. Weird. Why didn’t Jesus just get the coin some other way? Why not just reach down and “find” one in the dirt? Why send Peter on this chase?

Maybe because it gave Peter time to think. Fishing is a game of patience and solitude. Peter had time. He was trusting that God would come through. Why would he not come through? Peter was doing exactly what God asked. I don’t think Peter was thinking “I really wonder if there is going to be a coin the mouth of the fish.” I bet he was thinking “I wonder if this fish (the one that will have the coin in it’s mouth) is going to be big or small.” Peter was simply doing what Jesus has said. The results were guaranteed. The journey, an adventure.

That is where I want to live. Not guessing or hoping that God will move, but knowing that he will. As long as I do what he is instructing, the results are guaranteed. I should not be surprised at the results. I should instead find surprise and adventure in the journey.

God, I fully trust you to do what you say. Thanks for letting me be part of the journey and seeing you along the way.

[tags]trust, worry, God, devotions, Matthew, fishing, miracle[/tags]