Little Fish
1. True Fish Stories
2. God Created The Fish
3. David Praised The Lord For The Fish Of The Sea
4. The Value Of Two Small Fish In The Hands Of Jesus
5. Fishers Of Men
6. A Fish Story Of Faith
7. Fellowship With Fish
8. A Not So Little Fish
1. True Fish Stories
We talked about “Little Foxes That Spoil The Vine” and “A Little Bird Told Me”, and this week I want to look and see what we can learn from “Little Fish”. We were watching an old episode of “Family Affair”, which was a television series in the 60’s. Uncle Bill bought an aquarium for the kids and they chose several little fish. It didn’t go as well as planned and one day the 6 year old twins, Buffy and Jody, started screaming, “They’re eating the baby fish!” This was only one of the lessons they learned about fish. Big fish eat the little fish. Let’s look at some fish stories in the Bible and see what we can learn about little fish.
2. God Created The Fish
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) God created light, and then He created the firmament to divide the waters and called it heaven. On the third day he created the dry land and called it earth and He called the waters, seas. He created trees, and flowers, and grass on the earth. On the fourth day God created the sun, moon and stars to divide day from night. So God created this beautiful earth in those four days. And the fifth day He created living creatures to enjoy His world.
“20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.” (Genesis 1:20-23)
God created the fish of the sea and the birds of the air on the fifth day. “And God saw that it was good.” God was pleased with His creation. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11) It is fun to go to an aquarium and see the different kinds of sea creatures God made. God created animals and creeping things on land on the sixth day and He created man. What a wonderful world Adam and Eve were blessed to have as they lived in the Garden of Eden.
3. David Praised The Lord For The Fish Of The Sea
When I think of David, I think of a young shepherd boy who had trust in God to stand before the giant with a sling and five smooth stones from the brook. I think of how he fought many battles, and one day God made him king over Israel. I remember how God said that David was a “man after mine own heart.” I think of how he played on his harp and sang songs of praise to God. One of my favorite Psalms of David is Psalm 8. David praised the Lord for God’s creation. In verse 8 David praised God for “The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” I never really thought of David as one who knew about the creatures of the sea. But, he praised God for them.
“1 <<To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.>> O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8)
4. The Value Of Two Small Fish In The Hands Of Jesus
Jesus taught the multitude and didn’t want to send them away hungry. He fed them with the lunch of one small boy who was willing to give what he had to Jesus. He had five barley loaves and two small fish. Andrew asked, “But what are they among so many?” We think that what we have is so small, but when we give it to the Lord He can multiply it for His purpose. The two small fish and five loaves of bread may have seemed like nothing in the hands of the little boy, but they were of great value in the hands of the Lord.
“5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” (John 6:5-14)
5. Fishers Of Men
At least four of the twelve chosen apostles were fishermen. Jesus called Simon Peter, and Andrew his brother, and also James and John, the sons of Zebedee as they were by the Sea of Galilee. He called to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They left all to follow Jesus.
“18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-22)
We also have a call from the Lord. After Jesus rose from the dead He sent the disciples to preach the gospel. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) We also have the great commission in Acts 1:8-9. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” I used to wonder how the gospel could be preached in all the world as Jesus said in Matthew 24:14. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” With faithful missionaries in different parts of the world, and the internet reaching outward, it may be that the Word of the Lord is being preached to all nations. Are we doing our best to be fishers of men?
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
6. A Fish Story Of Faith
Many fishermen have their favorite fish story. I’ve heard stories about the one that got away, about the biggest fish they ever caught, and about the most fish they caught at one time. At times I have even heard of fishing trips where not a single fish was caught. I like this fish story that shows the faith of Simon Peter. Jesus told him to cast a hook into the sea and he would find a piece of money in its mouth to pay their taxes. This shows the great love and concern Jesus had for His disciples and it shows the great faith of Peter.
“24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (Matthew 17:24-27)
7. Fellowship With Fish
Some people like to have a fish fry and invite all their friends. It is special to go out and eat fish with family when we are on vacation at the beach. I even enjoy getting a plate of fish to go and bringing it home to eat with Michael. We can enjoy fellowship over a plate of fish. After Jesus rose up from the dead He met the disciples on the shore with fish and bread over coals of fire. His invitation was, “Come and dine.” Jesus wants to fellowship with His children. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
“1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.” (John 21:1-14)
8. A Not So Little Fish
Before this devotional I want to share thoughts from Brother Van Carter about the devotions yesterday. He said that Jesus did not address the failure of His disciples in not catching fish all night long, but instead He called them “Children” and made them fishers who caught 153 fish. “He rewarded them with a warm fire and Bread and Fish already cooked! God often looks past our failures and says Come and Dine any way!--Oh that is a GOOOOOOOD message of His Grace.” Thank you for reminding us of the love and grace of our God.
Fishermen are known for exaggerating about the size of their fish. Today we have a true story that many may not believe. I was taught this story as a child and I believed it, in my childlike faith. I still believe it. I believe the Bible, in its entirety. If someone thinks that parts of the scriptures are not true, how do they decide which ones to believe? Jesus tells us this story is true. “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40) Jonah ran from God and ended up in the belly of a great fish. I am sharing the first chapter. If you don’t know this story, I hope you will read the next three chapters of the book of Jonah.
“1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1)
