Luke 5:10

Four years ago this month, I was introduced to fly fishing. My friend’s father was an avid fisherman, leading my friend to take a similar interest in the sport. The three of us planned a weekend and met in the Grand Canyon.

Upon arriving, I watched as my friend and his father prepared the flies for the next day. Fishing was not foreign to me, but fly fishing was new, and I had a lot to learn. The legend of the next day’s fishing spot had preceded my arrival. I remembered stories of dozens of fish being caught in a single day. I didn’t dare envision similar success for myself, but the possibility alone excited me.

The next day started early as we set out along the Colorado River to find the perfect spot. While we motored down the river, I received instruction on how to fly fish. I learned how to most effectively disguise my lure as an insect and the art of casting. I also learned some common mistakes that alert the fish that something is different about the lure.

I listened as best I could, but I could not help thinking, “I’ve fished before. I get it, and this place is filled with fish. How hard can it be? I’ll get mine.” Finally, we arrived at a nice bend and docked. We prepared our poles and each of us picked a spot. The surrounding beauty was inspiring.

My friend's father as he fishes

My friend’s father had caught his first fish by the time I was able to cast my line 15 feet in front of me. It wasn’t long until I regretted not paying more detailed attention to my instructions while we were in the boat. While my friend and I struggled with our technique, his father seemed to catch a fish each time his lure hit the water.

I struggled to emulate, but I could not shadow my friend’s father. I remember coming close at times and felt multiple nibbles, but nothing was biting. Slightly distraught, I began to make excuses – if only I had a ‘normal’ fishing pole, my fishing partners were both in better spots, there must be something wrong with my pole, my lure, and so forth.

Recognizing my frustration, my friend’s father made his way over. He relieved me of my pole and proceeded to demonstrate the lesson he had given while we were in the boat. I remember thinking, “Let’s see you do it with this pole.” Without even trying, and while simply demonstrating form in my spot and with my pole, he hooked a fish. Kindly, he passed me the pole, and I caught my only fish that trip.

Despite my fly fishing inadequacies, the trip was very entertaining and relaxing. And, I was able to see a master at his craft.

Peter, James and others observed The Master at His craft in the fifth chapter of Luke. After casting out an evil spirit in Capernaum and healing Peter’s mother in law, Christ begin to gather quite a following. At the lake of Gennesaret, he borrowed Peter’s fishing boat as He taught the multitude from the lake.

Much like me on my fly-fishing trip, Peter and his fellow fishermen had spent the whole day out at sea without any luck. They were mending their nets when Jesus asked to use their boat as His pulpit.

After the sermon, Christ told Peter and the others to head back out and try once more. I think I know how Peter felt. They knew how to fish, what could the son of a carpenter possibly know about fishing that they had yet to learn? Nonetheless, he responded, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5).

They cast their nets. No sooner had they cast, they were filled. So filled, their nets, which had just been repaired, began to brake under the weight of the fishes. So overwhelming was the quantity of fishes, that they called their partners to help them in another boat. Not even that was enough, and both ships began sinking under the weight of their catch.

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 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” (Luke 5:8-10).

I found myself in similar astonishment after watching my friend’s father catch fish with such great ease. So much in fact, that the next time he shared fishing tips with me, I was much more attentive. Christ wanted the same response from Peter.

“Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:10).

Peter and his group knew how to fish, but they needed help to catch men. To have success, they would need to do it His way. I learned the same lesson from my friend’s dad, who also happened to be a Bishop.

Since my fly-fishing trip, I’ve realized I often try to fish in my own way. The results are always the same – failure. No matter how much we know about fishing, when it comes to His work, there’s only one way to do it, and that’s His way.

However, as we submit to His will and live our lives the way He would have us, there is no fish we cannot catch.

Job 42:13

I love the story of Job, and I’m not the only one. It is home to one of the Bible’s most well-known verses, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

In the verses previous, Job had learned that his oxen and asses had been stolen by the Sabeans, his sheep had been smitten and killed by the “fire of God” (Job 1:16) and his camels had all been stolen by the Chaldeans. As if that were not enough, he was also informed that his sons and daughters had been killed when a great wind blew over the house in which they were gathered for dinner.

Through his life of faith and righteousness, Job powerfully taught the beautiful attribute of patience. How can any of us complain of anything after reading of Job’s life? Are you yet like unto Job? Patience is important, and I want more of it, but patience is not what I love about Job’s story. Like anything else in this life, the true beauty of the book of Job takes diligent effort to uncover. Appropriately, in may also require patience.

Prior to Job’s devastating loss, the Biblical record inventories his possessions:
“And there were born unto [Job] seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:2-3).

It must have taken Job years to acquire such riches. It took a matter of minutes for him to learn that each of them, including his beloved children had been taken from this world. Almost mockingly one of Job’s servants survived each disaster to serve as the bearer of bad news. While he sat at his dinner table one servant interrupted the meal with news that would ruin anyone’s day. Before that servant could even finish, another would burst into the room to tell their tale of horror. This continued through four servants, the last sharing the crushing news that his childrens' time on earth had come to a close. Everything he owned. Everything by which he occupied his time. It was all gone. The Lord had given greatly, and swiftly had the Lord taken away.

Job’s trials encompassed much more than the loss of his family and his physical possessions. That was just chapter one, literally. In the next 41 chapters, Job is afflicted with boils, encouraged by his wife to “curse God, and die” (Job 2:9), wishes death upon himself to relieve his pain and sorrow, battles with the ache of feeling unforgiven, is scorned by his friends, suffers the accusation of diverse sins and is haunted by the recollection of his previous prosperity. Yet, “in all this, did not Job sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).

Job’s understanding of one beautiful principle, in my mind, enabled him to patiently endure his suffering and empowered him with patience.

In the 42nd chapter, the Lord finally intervenes, “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). There is a lesson to be learned in the fact that his afflictions were not relieved when he prayed for himself, but they were removed when praying for his friends. But this is not why I love the story of Job.

Another lesson can be learned in the fact that Job was blessed with twice as much as he had before his great trials. The Lord is just. He had taken Job’s possessions and his family. All of these things were to be restored to Job, and with interest. But this is not why I love the story of Job.

It is in the book’s last chapter that we read of what I love most of Job. I feel it appropriate that we are required to read through Job’s sufferings before enjoying the beauty of what chapter 42 provides. It is as if we suffer alongside Job for those 41 chapters. Believe me, chapter 42 is worth it.

Recall the list of Job’s possessions before his trials. The following chart summarizes what Job had before and what his promised reward of double should rightfully be:

*Job 1:2-3

Job was promised “twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). Later in the same chapter, there appears a discrepancy:

*Job 1:2-3; 42:12-13

The Lord appears to have made good on His promise on all Job had except for what he likely treasured most.

Why would the Lord not do as promised and double Job’s posterity as He doubled his substance?

I have come up with various possibilities:
- The translation is inaccurate. It would not be the only historical inaccuracy dealing with numbers in the Old Testament.
- The Lord lied.
- The Lord compensated for giving Job less than double the amount of children, by somehow making those children better than those he had previously. “And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job…” (Job 42:15).

Of course, there is one more option. What if the Lord actually did somehow double Job’s children by simply restoring the exact number of children he had before his afflictions? This would explain why Job never took exception to what he was given.

When Job’s sheep, camels, oxen and asses were either stolen or killed, that was to be the end of Job’s interaction with them. Not only in this life, but also throughout the eternities. “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither…” (Job 1:21). But, what if there is an exception?

Job’s seven sons, Job’s three daughters, there was something different about them, and Job knew it. The family, in its very nature, is eternal. Job made his testimony of the afterlife known to his friends, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27).

Job believed that his eyes would behold not only God, but those children which were unexpectantly relieved of their mortal existence. It was this knowledge which strengthened Job when he was tempted by the thought that he had nothing left to live for. Deep inside, he knew he did.

The Lord did double Job’s posterity by granting him seven sons and three daughters. Although Job’s separation from his sheep, camels, oxen and asses was permanent, something stronger than death bound him to his children. The sealing power of the priesthood, a power stronger than death, and one which can bind on earth and bind in heaven. There was no ‘til death do you part.

In a time in which my family has been blessed with the arrival of a son so loving, sweet and good, I am eternally grateful to share Job’s conviction that after this life, I also shall see God, and not only God, but I too have the opportunity to see those I love and care about throughout the eternities.

Job was right, blessed be the name of the Lord.