Fish

 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Matthew 17:24-27

Did Peter's “yes” ring in his ears afterward? “Yes, but…. Yes, how?” Peter faced with the lack of temple tax. What needs stare at us—spiritually, physically, mentally, financially, materially? Leave us with the faith of “Yes, but how?”

God’s grace in initiative—Jesus knew his thoughts and addressed his need even before Peter mentioned it. He took the initiative in telling Peter where to go. The grace of an all-seeing, compassionate God who takes the initiative in our need, our lack.

God’s grace in provision—Jesus met the need. He could have paid for it a million ways. He could have had someone miraculously give them a shekel or Peter could have found a shekel on the ground. But Jesus chose a fish, a single fish out of millions that just happened to swim up in the right moment and be hungry; that Peter just happened to catch; that happened to be the first one. A shekel in a fish’s mouth? This seems to be a simple miracle, but the complexity of timing is yet intricate.

God's grace of trust--There is nothing our Lord cannot arrange, organize behind the scenes so that a fish-strength-money-guidance-whateveryouneed will happen to surface at just the right time. He has made provision. He has invited you into the journey of looking in creative places for his provision. The grace of making us look—an art of dependence, dignity, curiosity, childlike trust. The grace of making us open our eyes to see him where we would not have looked. The grace to open our ears to hear him how he would be heard, and not with our own demands and agendas and pre-expectations would lay out. This creative miracle tears down our demands.

God's grace in skill--Why a fish? Why not another creative way? I don’t know, but I love that it was Peter’s profession and skill, it was Peter doing what Peter knew how to do—yet it was so entirely Jesus as well. Jesus worked in and through Peter’s set of gifts and circumstances.

God's grace in new, uncertain calling--Yet, to Peter it was also a reminder that where God calls, he equips. Peter had left what he knew for something different: discipleship. Peter’s need surfaced from his surrender. Jesus reminded him, “I will make you fishers of men. I called you away from this to my calling, and I will provide for this new calling.” We, too, have followed his call, and sometimes that means facing new needs and challenges we wouldn’t have otherwise. He will give you all you need today, no matter what shape.

In all, through all, by grace, he will give us the eyes to see him in new ways. Watch for fish.