Knowing that God has full control - a step on the journey

NORSK
Today’s reflection is a biblical example of finding “hidden treasures, and riches stored in secret places” (1) which I quoted yesterday.

The event took place just after the disciples had been filled with grief because Jesus again had told that “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” (2)

After a conversation about paying tax to the Temple, Jesus gave Peter the following assignment:

“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Matt 17:27

I love this story, and I am thrilled when I get the opportunity to tell children and adults about the prying little fish called Cod Cap who wanted to taste everything he saw. One day, Cod Cap discovered a treasure chest on the seabed. It was filled with something that shone bright and enticing. Do you think he wanted to taste it? Of course he did. But the shiny coin fastened in Cod Cap’s mouth, and God observed it ... and because he is God, he used it for something constructive that even ended up in the Bible.

"Simplified theology and bad rhyme, but true nonetheless!" was the title of a song by the Norwegian evangelist Kåre Skuland whom I have been fortunate to work together with a couple of times. It does not have to be complicated to be true. God has a full overview. He even knows when a fish is swimming around with a coin in his mouth. This is good to remember as I travel up to Jerusalem.

‘Manna’ for today:

God has full control and he knows what I need

PS - I will remain in this story for a few days.
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(1) Isaiah 45:3
(2) Matt 17:22-23