Connor Halsa thought he had hooked a big fish recently while fishing on Lake Of The Woods in Minnesota. When the 14-year-old brought in his line, he was surprised to find a wallet on his hook. The wallet was stuffed with $2,000 in cash.
A search of the wallet revealed the owner was Jim Denney, an Iowa farmer who had lost it the year before while fishing there. Denney was contacted, and he drove to Moorhead, MN to claim his lost loot. A reward was offered to the teenager, but he declined. Denney had to do something to show his gratitude, though, so he bought Connor a personalized cooler and took his family out to dinner to show his appreciation.
“The odds of ever finding or hooking a billfold in 20 feet of water — I don’t think there’s a number,” Denney was quoted as saying. He went on to say that he would be proud to have a grandson like Connor. The combination of luck and honesty has certainly put the spotlight on the young man.
Connor didn’t go fishing that day with any thought of hooking a cash-filled wallet. But Peter went fishing on one occasion with that very kind of expectation.
Upon arriving in Capernaum, Peter was asked by an official if Jesus paid temple taxes, something expected of every good Jew. When Peter entered the house where Jesus was, he didn’t have to mention this obligation; Jesus “anticipated him” (Matthew 17:25). He then gave this charge to Peter: “… go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you” (Matthew 17:27).
Matthew didn’t continue with the account, which is an indication that everything happened just the way Jesus said (see Luke 19:32; 22:13). Think about “the odds” of this: Jesus said that the first fish Peter would pull out of the sea would have a coin in its mouth. More than that, Jesus said that the “piece of money” would be sufficient to pay the temple tax for both Him and for Peter. In the Greek, “piece of money” is stater, and that coin is worth four drachma; the temple tax was two drachma.
How could Jesus know such a thing would happen? For people that feat would be impossible. But Jesus is more than mortal; He is the Son of God, and John said that the signs Jesus performed were for the purpose of revealing His identity: “But these [signs] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).
Has Jesus given us promises? Consider these few: Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:7; Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:1-3. If we decide to follow Jesus, can we trust Him to fulfill those promises? As He demonstrated on many occasions while on earth, He knows what He’s talking about!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2023, Timothy D. Hall
