Such little trust! Why did you doubt?
Yeshua, Matthew 14:31b
Last week we left off with the question, “Do we desire to be led by Yeshua or carried?” What conclusion did you form for yourself? Do you desire to be led by Yeshua or carried? The answer to this question is most important for us to consider as followers of Yeshua. If we only want to be carried, when will we secure maturity? Hebrews 5:12-14 (CJB) presents the admonishment, “For although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the very first principles of God's Word all over again! You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who has to drink milk is still a baby, without experience in applying the Word about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by continuous exercise to distinguish good from evil.”
In the Matthew 14:22-33, there is a struggle within Kefa in realizing Yeshua is present whether he wants to be led or carried. The struggle is all too real because it exposes our human nature that has not completely surrendered and believed in the truth of Adonai’s words.
23 After he had sent the crowds away, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night came on, and he was there alone. 24 But by this time, the boat was several miles from shore, battling a rough sea and a headwind. 25 Around four o'clock in the morning, he came toward them, walking on the lake! 26 When the talmidim saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost!" they said and screamed with fear. 27 But at once Yeshua spoke to them. "Courage," he said, "it is I. Stop being afraid." 28 Then Kefa called to him, "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water."
There is indeed a storm ragging and the scripture tells us that all the talmidim are terrified and in fear. In the midst of the storm Yeshua is present and reveals to them that He is there and tells them, "Courage, it is I. Stop being afraid." He speaks to them, but they are still in “carry me” mode. This is clear because Kefa responds by saying, “"Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come.” I cannot fault Kefa because I have walked in his shoes on many occasions. A challenge is present and I don’t know what to do and I panic. In the midst of this the word of truth remains the same, and does not change! The question for us is will the truth of Yahweh’s words prevail or will fear grip us into paralysis? Truth speaks to us:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I am calling you by your name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through water, I will be with you; when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you will not be scorched — the flame will not burn you. 3 For I am ADONAI, your God, the Holy One of Isra’el, your Savior — (Isaiah 43, CJB)
Yet, we doubt the verity of the speaker, and say if it is you Lord. The voice that responds in this manner desires to be carried because of fear. Yeshua despite this responds with an invitation “Come!"
Yeshua invites Kefa and us to trust, to depend and follow. Our walk in Christ is not contingent on how we feel. Indeed, some life circumstances can be overwhelming. If we perceive them to be greater than Yeshua surely fear will step in and cripple our ability to walk in the invitation. He does not call us to walk with Him then walk away. He beckons unto us and makes Himself known. Why would He call us out and allow us to drown/fail? The call of Yeshua is certain. ADONAI is good, and he is fair; this is why he teaches sinners the way [to live], leads the humble to do what is right and teaches the humble [to live] his way. All ADONAI’s paths are grace and truth to those who keep his covenant and instructions. (Psalm 25:8-10)
When and if we step out we can pray unto the Lord as in Psalm 25:4-5, Make me know your ways, ADONAI, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth, and teach me; for you are the God who saves me, my hope is in you all day long. For the steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.( Psalm 37:23-24) This is our demonstration of faith, when we allow and trust Yeshua to lead us according to His word and what He commands us directly.
But when he saw the wind, he became afraid; and as he began to sink, he yelled, "Lord! Save me!" 31 Yeshua immediately stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "Such little trust! Why did you doubt?"
Yeshua was present and in the moment throughout the entire storm. From the moment they recognized there was a storm until He ended it. He wasn't carrying Kefa but leading Him when He invited Him out of the boat. It was a moment of trust and faith. But when he saw the wind, he became afraid; and as he began to sink. As a believer there is a fundamental truth that we must hold dear. It is that Yeshua will not abandon us because He loves us. Period! That is the end of the story. This is crucial to us because when we face a storm we have to be able to say rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love. ADONAI, oppose those who oppose me; fight against those who fight against me. Grasp your shield and protective gear, and rise to my defense. Brandish spear and battle-axe against my pursuers; let me hear you say, "I am your salvation." (Psalm 44:26, Psalm 35:1, 2) That takes faith!
Unfortunately we have not fully committed to the work of developing our faith. It's easier when things go south to cry, cry, and cry. But seldom crying and trusting in faith, with the bold proclamation, “though he slay me yet will I hope in him”. One could argue Kefa was still young in his walk no pun intended. But as we learn the nature of Yahweh and Yeshua we need to be able to travail a little more without wimping out. This is what develops our faith. No challenge means there is nothing to trust Yahweh for. Who needs a Savior if they can deliver themselves? The development of our faith is what facilitates the ability for us to be led. So why then, such little trust? Why do you doubt?"
This is the question of the hour why such little trust? Why do you doubt?" This is a personal question, upon which you must reflect. Therein lays the answer on what is holding you from fully trusting and allowing the Lord to lead as you step out in faith. I can be honest and share that my ability to trust is often impaired by my desire to want to control the outcome and general impatience with the process. The process is work. The process means I have to pray, I have study, I have to renew my mindset, and I have to cast down vain imaginations. Basically, I have to fully engage. There is no room for laziness. It is my laziness; on occasion that then cries out Lord, can you do this for me? Carry me please! And in the circumstances when I want to engage, I find Yahweh leading in His word, in adoration, and in His instructions to me. The truth is that I cannot ask Yeshua to do those things for me when I am fully capable of exercising these tasks.
I want to be the believer that consistently can be led through the storm, because the fact is that the Lord is there. I want to be able to say "You really are God's son" during the storm, not after the coast is clear. The realization for the talmidim occurred once Yeshua cleared the storm and put Kefa back in the boat. Yet, what if, while in the storm we maintained the truth of the word, and confessed the word, “Vindicate me, ADONAI, for I have lived a blameless life; unwaveringly I trust in ADONAI. Examine me, ADONAI, test me, and search my mind and heart. For your grace is there before my eyes, and I live my life by your truth. (Psalm 26:1-3) Allow my ears to hear Your word behind me saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever I turn to the right or to the left.
Yeshua’s call to us to be led is also because He wants us to operate in the authority He has given us. Recall that the talmidim in Matthew 17 received a serious admonishment from Yeshua in their inability to pray and call upon the Lord’s power for healing in the epileptic boy. In verse seventeen, Yeshua answered, "Perverted people, without any trust! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!" These were Yeshua's words to His talmidim. This was a stern rebuke for their lack of spiritual maturity and faith. It is also a rebuke for us to consider if we constantly find ourselves pleading with the Lord to carry us, when He has indeed given us power and authority to execute truth in action.
In the desire to be led it’s clear this is accomplished at the feet of Yeshua. Hebrews 11 provides us with the portrait of what true faith in action can look like for us. We must seek after the Lord with every breath we take and embrace the journey of faith in which we will harken and follow His leading as His sheep. Remember without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. We can’t be led if we don’t believe. And so I leave you to ponder an excerpt of the lyrics of the song Oceans above, may this be our heart’s song:
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders Let me walk upon the waters Wherever You would call me Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander And my faith will be made stronger In the presence of my Savior
PRAYER:
We declare Thanks be to Adonai, who daily carries our burdens, leading us into righteousness, and teaching us the way we should go. Yahweh, we thank you for the invitation to believe and accept Yeshua as our Lord and Messiah. Expose those hidden elements that cause us to doubt, to be powerless, and deviate from Your leading us to the way of everlasting. Lord we believe, but help our unbelief. We desire that our faith move beyond a theological concept but become experiential. May our moments of seeking you be a renewal unto our minds and an equipping of our spirits to stand for Your truth. In Yeshua’s Name We Pray, Amen.