Matthew 17:27 says, “…go thou to the sea, and cast an hook…”
I have heard a lot of fish stories. One of my favorites—true story—was about the evangelist who was holding revival services in a small town. This preacher was an avid fisherman. His name was Ron. My understanding was that he bragged a little about his many successful fishing ventures. One farmer in the church invited Ron to come out to his farm and bring his pole. There were fish in the irrigation ditch—one huge one that no one was able to catch. Excited, Ron wasted no time in obliging him. The farmer took Ron to the place where the monster fish would likely be. There was a nice ripple of water gently flowing along. “Cast your line on the other side of that ripple and you should be close to where he hangs out.” Ron cast his favorite spinner just on the other side of the ripple. Sure enough, a big hit! The line “zinged” off his reel. What a run! His line came to the end and broke. Full of adrenaline, Ron looked at the farmer who was laughing. “You just caught yourself an irrigation pump, Preacher.”
Peter was the fisherman, Jesus the carpenter. Whether casting the net on the other side of the boat, or casting a hook into the sea, Jesus’ advice always brought results. One day Jesus called to Peter to follow Him and He would make him a fisher of men. We can learn an important lesson about fishing for men from Peter and Jesus. The results were not from how the net or hook was cast, though both of these required obedience, but in the fish being ready to be caught.
God drew the fish to the net and to the hook. John 6:44 states, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:…” The Jews Jesus was speaking to were murmuring against Him because He said He was the bread which came down from heaven.
Jesus said in John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” The drawing of men is the secret. Out of all the fish in the sea, one had a coin in its mouth. Jesus knew that this would be the first fish Peter would catch. It is almost like Jesus said, “Cast your hook on the other side of that ripple.” Imagine the astonishment of Peter as he took the hook out of the fish’s mouth and found the coin in it. Jesus did it again!
When fishing for men, always go with Jesus. He will do the drawing. He does it because He was lifted up from the earth, or hung on the cross. That’s why He wants you to bring your cross along. He wants you and me to be “lifted up” so to speak. When we lay down our life for our brothers, God begins to draw them. They are not only drawn to your cross, but the cross of Jesus.
It is not all about us and how we cast, or fish. It is not our technique. It Is about God drawing them.
Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” God’s love for the world has not ceased. He is the one who seeks and saves the lost. He knows where they are. If we are walking close to Jesus He will show us where and when to cast. While we are waiting for the fish to be drawn, let our prayer be, “Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou has died. Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side” (Fanny Crosby).
