One of the impressive ways we learned how authentic the Bible is, is how it treats its heroes. Heroes in ancient literature are often painted larger than life.
In this short passage, we find Peter, who was the founder of the church and the most prominent figure, as impulsive, fearful, and doubtful.
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14.28-32).
Lessons from Peter
Earlier in his walk with Jesus, the Lord sent the disciples out on a mission filled with power and authority.
Jesus told them, “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
“Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse the lepers; cast out demons” (Matthew 10.7-8).
We can assume that Peter and the disciples experienced what we read about in this charge by Jesus. Peter may have reasoned, “If we can cure the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse the lepers, why can’t we walk on water?”
Peter’s first steps on the water were successful, but then his faith was seemingly overcome by doubt. James, the Lord’s brother, explains how a double mind will erode faith.
But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
For the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1.6-8).
I wonder if James was thinking about Peter’s walking-on-water experience when he wrote this. What we know is being of two minds is a sure way to be someone of little faith.
I have thought quite a bit recently about Jesus’s first proclamation about the coming of the Kingdom of God.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1.15).
Peter knew that the Kingdom of God had come. In his mission that Jesus sent him out on, he experienced the fact that God is king over all the earth. And yet, amid the wind and the waves, he failed to believe that the Kingdom of God was there and began to sink.
I appreciate this insight about Peter, as it’s very true in my life too.
I believe the Kingdom of God has come, and I am following Jesus as someone who has repented and one of His disciples.
Yet, there are times when I am overwhelmed by the “winds and waves” of life. I become double-minded and fail to believe the good news of God’s rule in my life.
A Lesson From Abraham
Peter wasn’t the only one who had to overcome fear and doubt. Abraham, the father of the faith, surely experienced fear and doubt as he was called by God to sacrifice his son Isaac.
After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you” (Genesis 22.1-2)
When Abraham was a relatively young man, God promised him that from his family would come a nation so large that it couldn’t be numbered. He waited until his old age to have a child, and now God commands him to sacrifice his only son.
Surely, this encounter would have brought confusion and doubt to the patriarch.
Abraham’s experience has many lessons to teach us. One of them is how we approach fear and doubt. The father of the faith shows us that faith is going on with God despite fear and doubt.
When we may encounter issues in life that are confusing, fearful, and doubt-producing. Like Abraham, we can go on with God and trust him during these times.
Both Peter and Abraham overcame their doubt by walking with the Lord every day.
This is a solution for our issues as well. A daily walk with God, where we meet with Him, talk to Him, listen to Him, and follow Him, is the best way to have faith and be victorious over doubt.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 