“And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)
I love this story where the disciples get caught in a storm and fear for their lives. Jesus was in perfect peace trusting in His Heavenly Father and was asleep. Not a care in the world.
The disciples woke Him up and He with a word commanded and the sea and wind became calm. The disciples then marvelled or wondered at Jesus asking, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” They were amazed at this man Jesus. His glory, power and wonder closed their mouths.
They had the Son of God, maker of heaven and earth in the boat with them and yet they feared for their lives even accusing Him of not caring. The absurdity stands out but how often do we fall into the same circumstances. How often do we go through circumstances that we have declared to be bad and blamed God for such situations and cried out that He doesn’t care about us.
It’s not up to us to decree situations bad because even the seemingly bad situations God has decreed for good. Consider Joseph and Daniel for good examples of this truth. God has declared that all things that happen to us happen for our good if we are His.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:28-32)
The problem which leads us to do this is twofold. First of all we have never grasped the glory of the sovereignty of God. God has a right to do with us as He pleases and all of His decrees flow from His righteous character. The second problem is that we have never marvelled at Jesus ourselves. We have never cried out “What manner of man is this?” We see Him as the careless sleeper not the sovereign who commands eventhe elements of this earth and they obey Him.
God has the power to stop or change any circumstance and if He doesn’t we must trust that what He is doing is the best. If we stop to marvel at the Saviour we will turn from accusing God to gazing on Him in wonder. We will realize that whatever He is doing is for our benefit whether calming the storm or sleeping as it rages. With this wonder in view we can rest in the storm just as easily. Find wonder and marvel at the Saviour and rest in beholding His glory.
The Gospel Beacon 