Perilous Provision

Provision

We seek it. We plead for it. We thirst for it. And then when it comes, it astonishes us.

But – don’t miss this part – provision can sink us if we aren’t careful.

Such was the case when astonishing provision came to the disciples. (Read Luke 5 HERE)

They toiled all night and still did not accomplish what was needed.

They showed up. They worked hard. They did their job.

They were stout-hearted. They were steadfast. They were faithful.

They should have had plenty of fish to show for their work.

But they didn’t.

So, they accepted reality and started to clean their nets. They were tired in body and weary in spirit and maybe even weighed down with failure. They had come to the end of themselves.

And then, when Jesus told them to let down the nets one more time, it was decision time.

Fortunately for them, they chose to follow His words and continue to work. They let down the nets. One. More. Time. And at that time and place of God’s choosing, He provided.

Astonishingly!

And in that moment of provision, rapid fire decisions had to be made. Fish were entrapped in the nets to the point that the nets were breaking. They had to immediately assess their capacity to deal with the provision. What resources did they have? What resources did they still need?

The provision they encountered required so much, so quickly: discernment, courage, coordination and unselfish leadership, teamwork, a pre-set grid of values, not to mention conviction, skill and adaptability. And humility.

There were only so many of them. They could each pull only so much of the weight.  They had been up all night. They needed fresh physical strength, fresh enthusiasm, and fresh perspective. They assessed, in a nano-second, that this provision was too much for them to handle, so they called for help from others.

If they had tried to keep it all to themselves and go on alone, they would surely have lost it all.  They were forced to acknowledge their limits and share the load that Jesus had brought to them. They were forced to call in reinforcements.

And it’s a good thing they did because … things got worse.

The boat started to sink.

That strong and seaworthy vessel, the center point of their occupation, their identity, and their survival was inadequate. In fact, both the original boat and the boat of those who joined them were on the verge of being overwhelmed by the plenty. Even their combined resources were not enough.

This provision was astonishing. This was beyond imagination. Their finite minds couldn’t contain the scope of possibility when Jesus was orchestrating the provision. And this provision was so plentiful, so amazing, it brought peril to them.

The fishermen were blown away! They had believed Jesus enough to let down their nets. One. More. Time. But they hadn’t believed big enough.

Now they must believe even deeper. Now they must believe that Jesus could rescue them from the perilous provision. They must assess their need and their resources all over again. Though they had done well in reaching for help and managing the surge of plenty, now the greatest peril of all had to be confronted.

Now they were in danger of being caught in the nets themselves. They could easily be ensnared if they continued to focus on the provision rather than fixing their gaze on the Provider.

And the fishermen did well once again. In the middle of the dazzling, problematic provision, Peter recognized Who was in front of him. He responded by worshiping Jesus and confessing his own spiritual need. Even their astonishment at the provision didn’t keep them from seeing beyond the physical provision to the Greater Reality: themselves as sinners and Jesus as Jehovah Jireh, the Provider.

They didn’t linger too long staring at the piles and piles of plenty. Settling for the temporary would have meant missing the perpetual miracle.  They left behind the familiar so that they could be with Jesus. They could have fixated on the fish but instead they followed Jesus.

The main thing wasn’t the miracle. The main thing was Jesus.

The fishermen got it right. They navigated safely through the perilous provision. They could have chosen to be stuck on the provision. Instead they chose the Provider.

May it be so for us!

It’s tricky because the provision can dazzle us. We can get caught up in it to our own peril.

We are in peril if we demonstrate a faulty assessment of our resources, a reluctance to get help (or ignore available help), and especially if we have a misplaced focus on the provisions rather than on the Provider.

When I can feel like I’ve toiled all night and the results I dreamed of are not coming true,  what shall I do? What shall we do?

… continue to “lower the nets” and be faithful in my daily spiritual habits and routines.

… wait in watchful anticipation for the provision, and for the concurrent perils/problems.

… live in restful anticipation, watching for the help and replenishing resources He places nearby.

And always, always I keep my focus on the Provider –  valuing Him more than I value His gifts.

Otherwise, I will miss the boat. How sad if at the end of the day I am found bowing in worship before the fish.

And in the end, I may find that the place of need and the place of provision are equally sweet – as long as my eyes, and my heart, are fixed on Him.

Oh, Lord, in the midst of perilous provision may I know You more intimately,

love You more deeply and follow You more closely. 

The song, “More Than Anything” echoes this truth beautifully.