Salvation Sound - October 2008

Posted on October 1, 2008

"GONE FISHIN' - INSTEAD OF JUST A-MISSIN'."

Do you remember those halcyon days when armed with a jam jar and fishing net, you took off to the nearest pond or stream to fish for minnows or sticklebacks, or newts; or maybe to collect frogspawn to make a pond of your own in an old washing-up bowl.?

I was so reminded of those days as I walked along the canal bank at Leighton Buzzard and saw today's fishermen. They had large umbrellas, to ward off rain or sun - little seats to sit upon - keep nets for their catch - boxes and cans full of bait - not for them a worm or two from the garden - and the rods - of differing size and weight, with elaborate hand made flies.

How different from mine; a bean stick, with a bag on the end, made from an old net curtain. Yet the excitement of the catch was equal in both cases.

Some while ago I visited Israel, and went on board a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee and watched the fishermen throw the huge nets into the water;- they still used the same technique as did the fishers of Jesus' time. The methods used were either the casting net or the drag net - though some were caught by the fishing hook. (Matt. 17 : 27)

Fish, called dag, in Hebrew, abounded,in the lakes in the valley of the Jordan. So no doubt the Hebrews were familiar with many species, although no fish are mentioned in either the old or the new testament by name.

It was from the fishing industry that Jesus called his first disciples; Simon, (called Peter), Andrew, James and John, - it was in a fishing boat that He rebuked the wind and waves. He fed the multitudes, twice, with fish and bread. Tribute money was found in the mouth of a fish; and He ate broiled fish with the disciples after his resurrection. He told the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat after a fruitless night of fishing - they did, and caught so many fish that they couldn't pull it in!

When he called to Simon and Andrew as he walked on the shore of Galilee, he saw that they were fishers and said "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men". We are still called to serve Jesus, even today; if we accept him as our Lord and Saviour we have hope for our future.

"Those first disciples heard and trusted God's word - If we believed as they believed, great grace would hallow every deed."

Now where's my purse - for I think 'twill be cod and chips for tea!!

Diary Date...
Harvest Festival...October 5th. 11am.
Thanksgiving Praise Meeting Supper and sale of produce October 6th, 6pm.

Source: Focus, October 2008