He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.” (John 21:6)
The man on the shore gives a remarkable piece of advice: cast the net on the other side of the boat, and you will catch something. From a rational perspective, that seems unlikely to make much difference; after all, a few meters away there would not suddenly be many more fish. Moreover, departing from their usual method carries the risk that the nets might tear. Yet the fishermen listen to this strange advice—with astonishing results. There are so many fish in their nets that they can hardly haul them in. The distance to the shore is still too great to see clearly who is standing there, but this miracle tells them who the Man on the shore is: it is Jesus!
Casting the net on the other side in obedience to Jesus is an act of faith. It does not always seem logical to listen to Him. His instructions and His will for our lives sometimes run counter to common opinion and what appears wise by human standards. And yet, if we dare to trust Him, if we obey His guidance, we may well be surprised. Expect great things from Him!
In what area does God’s will seem illogical or unwise to you? How do you deal with that?
Image by Lumo Project Films – www.lumoproject.com.