We Have Toiled All Night with Nothing - Luke 5:5

The beloved physician Luke shared how, “it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God”, Jesus “stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught”, and in chapter five and verse five of his book Luke shared how Peter says to Jesus, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing” where we read:

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.

The verse reads, “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing:” Luke began with the words, “And Simon answering said unto him” or “and Simon whose name means a little rock or stone responded and began to utter, declare and proclaim to Jesus”, “Master” which means “overseer, appointee, commander or teacher”, “we have toiled all the night” or “Simon and his fellow fishermen had grown weary, were tired, exhausted and labored with wearisome effort throughout the entire nighttime”, “and taken nothing” which means “and claimed, procured and took possession of not one thing”. Luke shared how “Simon” responded to Jesus by telling Him that he and the other fishermen worked all night long and were unsuccessful at catching any fish.

The verse goes on to say, “nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.” Luke added the word, “nevertheless” which means “but, moreover and” “at your word” or “at Jesus' speech, discourse and utterance” “I will let down the net” which means “Simon would loosen his fishing net into the deeper water”. Luke shared how “Simon” submitted to Jesus' directive to “let down” his net into the water.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how “Simon” thought he knew more about fishing than Jesus. “Simon” was a “fisherman” for a living, and because he was “experienced” not only in the past, but also within the previous evening, he believed he knew what would happen when he obeyed Jesus' word. Jesus was the Creator of all things, and when He gives a directive to go “fish”, those who hear Him should do as He says. God wants people to trust in Him through His Son Jesus Christ, and because He knows all things pertaining to this life, including fishing, those who are wise will submit themselves to Him and whatever He tells them to do.

Next time Luke shares, “when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".