Jesus moved a fish around to just the right place at the exact moment He wanted to use it. When the Pharisees were trying to trick the Lord about paying taxes, He put a coin in the fish’s mouth, had someone one fetch the fish, and used the coin as an object lesson. What about using the fish as an object lesson of obedience?! I like to think about these vessels the Lord used. How did the Lord get that coin into that particular fish? Had someone thrown it overboard, and the Lord had that fish come swallow it just before the tax question? Had the fish had that coin in his mouth a long time, and then it was finally time to come forth with the said coin? Funny thoughts. I think the Lord had a great since of humor.
Other obedient fish were the ones the professional fishermen “caught” after they had fished all night and caught nothing, until this new “preacher” came along and told them how to do it. You know there had to be some eye-rolling going on. But, this bumper crop of fish came along and got in the net as the Lord commanded them. Were they “in the wings” waiting for their cue? Had they taken a detour so they would arrive at just the right time? Did the Lord create them spontaneously when the net flew over the water?
The Lord repeated this miracle after the resurrection. It was time for the Lord to teach Peter that he really did love the Lord. Peter, I guess, was feeling lost after all that had happened and went “a fishing.” When the Lord called from shore asking about their catch, and once again telling them to throw their nets back in, 153 obedient little fishies swam right into that net and became their supper. I imagine obedient fish taste better than regular fish.
My favorite obedient animal though, is the rooster. Peter had boasted that He would follow Jesus anywhere. He would never forsake the Lord. Within hours, Peter found out how foolish such boasting was. But think of the rooster! The Lord had told Peter he would deny Him thrice before the rooster crowed twice. Peter was failing miserably – denying the Lord left and right, but not the rooster. Right on cue, that rooster let ‘er rip! The Lord was in the midst of His mock trial, but I can just imagine Him signaling that rooster, “Now.”
What a mighty God we serve. “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:27) He is worthy of our trust and our obedience. If donkeys, fish, and roosters obey Him, shouldn’t we? “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
Debbie Lavender is a pastor's wife in Nova Scotia. She has been in the ministry with her husband Paul since the day they were married in 1975. She is the author of the book Overcoming Being Overcome (amazon.com). Her heart's desire is to please the Lord in every area of ministry the Lord gives her to do.