Shirley's Desk

Nevertheless At Thy Word

Luke 5:1-10

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We serve a peculiar God who does not always operate in what we may consider the norm. In fact, sometimes what He does, or asks us to do, may seem strange or unreasonable. Who can comprehend or understand the mind of God? The Bible clearly states in Isaiah 55 that God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. As far as the heaven is from the earth are His ways from our ways and His thoughts from our thoughts. Has God ever asked you to do something you thought was crazy or unreasonable? It just didn’t make sense. You probably asked yourself, “Why would God ask this of me?”

An excellent example of God making an unthinkable request of one of His servants is found in the book of Hosea. God instructed the Prophet Hosea to marry a woman who was less than saintly. In fact, the bible says she was a whore. Yes, He instructed the Prophet to marry Gomer, a whore! He didn’t just marry her for the sake of obeying God’s command; he learned also to love her. You see, God has a purpose for everything He does and for everything He allows to happen. Although Hosea loved and provided for Gomer, she proved to be unfaithful. This was God’s purpose: He used Hosea’s marriage to an unfaithful wife to illustrate His love for His unfaithful people.

Luke, chapter 15 is another instance in which God seems to make an unreasonable request. We find Jesus standing by the Lake of Gennesaret observing fishermen washing their nets. The washing of their nets was an indication that they had given up, at least for that day. After all, they had been out there all night waiting unsuccessfully for a catch. Jesus entered one of the boats belonging to Simon Peter. He sat down and began to teach. After He finished teaching, He instructed Simon to launch out into the deep, and let down his nets for a catch. Simon replied, “Master we have been toiling all night and have not caught anything.”

One must have patience to be a successful fisherman. Too many times we give up if we don’t receive an instant reward. Have you given up or stopped believing God, because it’s taking too long for Him to answer your prayers? Although Simon was skeptical as to the good of letting down his net once more he replied, “Nevertheless at thy word, I will let the net down.”

Simon Peter’s willingness to obey Jesus in spite of what the situation appeared to be, caused him to experience the catch of his life. There were so many fish that their nets were breaking. Continue to obey God, even if what you were called to do seems unreasonable or foolish to you or in the eyes of others. They don’t know God’s purpose and plan for your life. Don’t get in a hurry. Wait on God! So, the next time you are asked to launch out into the deep and let down your net, even though you’ve toiled all night, say “Nevertheless at thy Word, I will obey.”


Elder Shirley Freeman
Daughters of Zion Women’s Ministries