God's Way of Fishing

Matthew 4:18-22
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2007 Harold Dinsmore

               In Matthew chapter 4 and beginning in verse 18 we find Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James and John to become his disciples.  Read it with me.  “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.  At once they left their nets and followed him.” 

               Notice they type of fishermen these men were.  They were commercial, professional fishermen.  They made their living fishing the waters of the Sea of Galilee.  These men were rugged, hard working men.  Men who knew what it was like to work long, tiring hours.  The slide you are now looking at is an example of a first century fishing boat probably much like what these guys were using.

              But we notice also how they fished.  Verse 18, casting a net into the lake, verse 20 they left their nets, verse 21 mending their nets. Our slide shows us some men mending their nets along the Sea of Galilee today which is called Lake Keneret.  Now why is using net so significant when it comes to fishing?  Here is why.