Chapter 17
Get Out of the Boat
The Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
The Problem:
The Sea of Galilee is well known for its fierce storms. One storm on the Sea of Galilee is described in Mark 4:37: “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” Luke 8:23 describes a storm on the Sea of Galilee this way: “There came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.” And in our reading for this lesson, Matthew said, “But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary” (Matthew 14:24).
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Such storms result from differences in temperatures between the seacoast and the mountains beyond. The Sea of Galilee lies 680 feet below sea level. It is bounded by hills, especially on the east side where they reach up to 2000 feet in height. These heights are a source of cool, dry air.
In contrast, directly around the sea, the climate is semi-tropical with warm, moist air. The large difference in height between surrounding land and the sea causes large temperature and pressure changes. This results in strong winds dropping to the sea, funneling through the hills.
The Sea of Galilee is small, and these winds may descend directly to the center of the lake with violent results. When the contrasting air masses meet, a storm can arise quickly and without warning. Small boats caught out on the sea are in immediate danger. In addition, the Sea of Galilee is relatively shallow, just 200 feet at its greatest depth. A shallow lake is “whipped up” by wind more rapidly than deep water, where energy is more readily absorbed.
Contending with storms on the Sea of Galilee was something Peter, James, John, and Andrew were more than used to, being professional fishermen. But still it must have seemed odd to them to see such a fierce storm come up so suddenly. They were fighting just to hold their own, bailing water like there was no tomorrow, rowing as hard as they could, and yet making no headway.
And then they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water. They weren’t sure if they were seeing a ghost or if it was really Jesus. So Peter called out to Jesus and said, “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”
The Turning Point:
What an insane request! There he was, already soaking wet but still sitting in the relative safety of the boat, and yet he asked the Lord to tell him to walk on the water over to Him. The Bible doesn’t say what the other disciples in the boat were thinking, but I imagine they thought Peter had lost his mind. They were probably asking each other, “Is he crazy enough to step out of the boat in the middle of this storm, this far from the shore?”
We have seen in the past how prone Peter was to open his mouth and say something without thinking first, and I have often wondered if Peter asked Jesus the question before he had really considered the enormity of that would require. In spite of the storm, Peter wanted to walk on water just like Jesus.
The Miracle That Followed:
When Jesus said, “Come,” Peter obeyed and jumped out of the boat so quickly he had no time to think about what he was doing. Before he knew it, he was standing out there in the middle of a raging sea. Put yourself in his waterlogged shoes, and imagine how Peter felt when he first stepped out of the boat. Surely he felt the wind and rain blowing against his face. As the waves billowed, likely his clothes became even more soaked from the churning sea.
I don’t what it felt like to walk on water, but it had to be unlike anything Peter had ever experienced before. Human reasoning would say, “There’s no way I can walk on water,” but Peter responded to the Lord’s call in faith. I am convinced that, in those initial moments, Peter felt safer standing on the water walking toward Jesus, than sitting in the boat without Him.
But then, as the story continues, we see how Peter went from walking on the water with total faith that Jesus would keep him from drowning, to a state of sheer panic and terror. He had confidently stepped out of the boat in obedience, but when he focused on the storm instead of Jesus, he became filled with fear.
In the middle of our own storms, it can be easy to lose our focus. We may start out well, trusting the Lord will carry us through, but as the storm intensifies, some tend to take their eyes off Jesus and focus on the storm. Always keep your eyes on Jesus. He alone has the ability to walk above our storm and keep us safe.
The Bottom Line:
If we are ever going to become all that God wants us to be, and do all that God wants us to do, we need to be willing to dip our toe in the water and do things outside our comfort zone. We need to be willing to obey in faith when the Lord gives us instructions that seem strange. His request might require that we abandon human reasoning and simply respond in faith. Your friends may assume you’ve lost your mind and will usually be unwilling to follow. Note – none of the other disciples were eager to get out of the boat. Peter was the only one.
Or maybe you’ve already stepped out of the boat but now, everywhere you look, you can only see strong wind and turbulent waves. Don’t lose your focus. Just keep your eyes on Jesus. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
