Night Fishing

“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5 KJV)

“…toiled all the night…” Why were they fishing at night? Theoretically, that’s when the fish could be caught. Does that sound similar to our world today? How many things can people be caught in at night? How many of our advertising campaigns specifically target those vices which we should not want? Catching people in a dark place by enticing them with things the world longs for is likely a trade that any man can learn. But they were not asked to lower their nets again at night. It was now daylight. And not just any daylight. The very light of the world was right there teaching! Teaching a large group of people who were also right there and hungry for more. The command that Jesus gave was “…let down your nets for a draught”. Draught is literally a haul (of fish). Have you ever heard the voice of Jesus telling you to let down your nets? Those web-like things that you have previously used to catch what you want to eat. In doing so that you might see what a real haul looks like. A haul that you (and the people near you) will not be able to bring in without beginning to sink. A haul that will not only transform what you are looking for, but also become food for those whom you used to feed off of?

It gets more pointed. Peter calls out that this action is to be done “at thy word”. Is there any greater declaration of faith, simultaneous with an offload of liability, should this not work out; that a man can say? So, what does actively doing something at the Lord’s command reflect? Certainly a dismissal of everything else. No one else in the boat talked him into this idea. No other efforts up to this point have produced anything like a haul. It reflects a wholehearted trust in His authority in the present moment.

So, when Peter’s faith becomes sight, and realized by those around him too, what is Peter seeing beyond what Jesus meant by a haul? “…I am a sinful man…” How is it that we come to this conclusion? How do we really know this for certain? The word that we receive from Jesus processed with faith produces more both quantitatively and qualitatively than we know that we could ever be otherwise. We see in that moment both our insufficiency and His uncontainable glory. The world that God offers is so much more real and greater than the one that we are currently living in. The kingdom that Jesus reigns in transforms us into completely new creatures. It redirects who and what we are fishing for. It even resets who is feeding who and why. In fact, be prepared that your net will break. It is not designed to hold what needs to be held. Jesus will equip you with new tools along with the new work that He has for you.

“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” (Luke 5:11 KJV)