Apr 15, 2007 - In the mouth of a fish

Apr 15, 2007

Mat 17:24-27 KJV
(24) And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
(25) He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
(26) Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
(27) Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.



Years ago, I heard a fairly prominent preacher tell how he went fishing every chance he could because if Jesus could put a coin in the mouth of a fish for Him and Peter, then God could do the same for him. That statement ignores a few things. The first being, if God does something for someone, you can not live of of what God told them. You have to hear from God clearly for yourself.

Jesus and Peter did not have the money. Jesus did not really have to pay this, it was a tribute to Him and His Father. But they needed to keep up appearances. Jesus was not ready to let people know that He was the Son of God. Since they needed money (Judas must have been off somewhere else) the Son of the God who knows everything sent Peter on an errand. Jesus knew where that fish was to be and when it would be there. So it was a short trip, catch the fish and pay the tribute.

Jesus knows what you need when you need it. He will tell you what you need to know when you need it and not a moment before. It can be difficult to wait for that time, but it is God's time.