Fishing and Shepherding

P. I. Abraham

When we go through the Bible we see that God always looks for Simple men. He can use wise men too but he always prefers simple type of people for his mission. Moses is the typical example for this. He was looking after the sheep of his father in law when God gave his vision to Moses in a burning bush. Later Moses was much used in the mighty hands of God in the deliverance of the people of Israel and later in leading them through the wilderness and desert. To me it is a surprising point when I think of Moses in relation to the  super natural miracles through him but the fact is that he was not healed of his stammering. That is a mystery. God always uses people in their weakness. Why it is so? My answer is that nobody should glorify in his own merit or credit. St. Paul did a wonderful Apostolic ministry. At the same time he was having a thorn in the flesh. Thrice he begged God to get rid off it but God’s answer was otherwise. Let it be there but My grace is sufficient for you. Paul’s disciple Timothy was a very good Christian and a very effective minister. But we read from the word of God that Timothy had stomach trouble. God uses unhealthy  and poor people for his mission that nobody should boast in one self.

                In relation with Moses another point of surprise in my mind is the rod in his hand. It was the same rod which he used as a shepherd in the wilderness. It is true that Moses surrendered the rod at God’s feet but the thing was the same. God uses simple instruments for his mighty work. Outwardly the rod was the same. But when submitted before God the mystery of power was hidden in it. It is with that rod that Moses divided the sea and smote the rock. Surrender before God is the most important thing in human life.

                Now let us turn to David. In the battle with Goliath we see David in his ordinary shepherd’s cloth and having a rod and sling in his hand. It was a  joke in the eyes of Goliath. But David and his rod were dedicated to God and the glory was upon his head.

                Let us turn to the gospels. There were kings, priests and many other mighty men. When Jesus looked for his disciples he never went after great men but he called simple fishermen for his task. The chief Apostle Peter was an average fisherman when Christ called him. He had nothing to glorify in himself. His total loss was a simple fisherman’s net. At this juncture I measure the contrast between poor Peter and the rich people who claim to be the successors to the former!

                May I invite my readers to another scene in relation with the fisherman Peter who is at the shore of the sea of Tybereas. Peter after denying his master was in utter perplexity and confusion. The pity of it is that he again went to the sea taking his old net to fish. The tragedy was that he caught no fish at all. A backslider can not prosper in his way. The loving and forgiving Jesus was after him. He in disguise asked Peter to present some fish which he caught during the night. “I caught nothing” was his sad reply. Jesus then directed Peter to throw his net out on the right side of the boat. He did so without knowing that it was  Jesus. They came to know just then that it is their loving Master. Then and there he repented of his denial and shed tears before Jesus. Jesus openly forgave his failings and restored him. After they had eaten, Jesus asked Simon Peter thrice whether he loves him, he answered he loves Jesus but at the third time peter said “Lord you know every thing; you know that I love you” Then Jesus said, “feed my sheep.”