Title Matthew 14:22-33 Trust and Faith
Contents Matthew 14:22-33
There is an old saying, 'Gwanpo Jigyo'. It means 'the relationship between spectators (管仲) and po-suk (鮑叔)', and we use this old-fashioned adjective when talking about true friendship. It was because they trusted each other that they were able to maintain their friendship for a long time.
Of course, there were times when we had different opinions, and there were times when we made mistakes with each other. However, because of their trust in each other, their friendship did not change no matter the circumstances. Even when the two were in a hostile relationship where one person had no choice but to die, they believed in that friend to the end, so they risked their lives to spare a friend who was about to die.
After Jesus had fed 5,000 people with five fish, he left Capernaum in a boat and went to the region of Gerasea. I was on a boat, and there was a storm on the boat. But Jesus was so tired that he slept soundly at the back of the boat despite the storm. Suddenly, because of a storm, the disciples are terrified and shake Jesus to wake him up. “Jesus, we are about to die in a storm, so why are you sleeping?” Then, after calming the storm, Jesus rebuked his disciples, saying, "How can you have no faith?"
Why did Jesus rebuke the disciples for lack of faith? The disciples saw and experienced with their own eyes that Jesus fed more than 5,000 people with five fish. These are the words of the disciples who experienced what Jesus was like through that event and saw them trembling in fear despite Jesus being with them.
The disciples believed in Jesus as God when Jesus fed 5,000 people with five fish. However, when their lives are in danger, they no longer believe that Jesus in the boat is God.
In Genesis 12, Abraham receives God's promise to 'make a great nation, make his name great, and make him a source of blessing'. This is the promise to give children to Abraham, who had no children.
After waiting for 10 years, Abraham began to shake his faith in God when he had no children. So, in the end, Abraham did not believe the word of God to the end and tried to accomplish this by giving birth to Ishmael in a human way. However, God gave Isaac as a child to Abraham as promised.
God calls Abraham again. “Abraham, take your son Isaac and go to Mount Moriah and offer it.” At this time, Abraham could freely protest or disobey God. But this time he trusts in God because Abraham has already experienced the power of God.
The reason that the spectators and Po-suk were able to embrace each other's mistakes and disappointments was because they had deep trust in each other. So is our trust in God.
On the winding road of life, we often doubt God and wander.
However, God does not change forever, regardless of whether we believe in Him or not, and He is the Creator of heaven and earth.
How I think of God now determines my faith.