23 And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. 25 As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” 29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” –Matthew 14:23-33, NET
Years ago, when Rob Bell’s Nooma series were hot on the scene, I heard him say about this passage, “I always assumed that Peter doubts Jesus, but Jesus isn’t sinking. Who does Peter doubt? He doubts himself.” His point was that we have it within us to BE like Jesus. Our core problem is not a faith in Jesus issue, it’s that we don’t have enough faith in ourselves. “May you believe in God, but may you come to see that God believes in you,” he concludes.
Crafty. Believe in yourself and you can be like God.
No. God did not say. Anywhere. To the contrary, when Moses cites a speech impediment for not going before Pharaoh (Exo 4:10), God did not say, “You can do this, Moses, I believe in you,” (Exo 4:10). Rather, God rebukes Moses for even making himself a factor in the equation (Exo 4:11-12). Self-confidence is not the goal. Complete reliance on God is.
However, Bell may have a point. If “faith in Jesus” is simply our belief that He exists, then Peter indeed did not "doubt Jesus." So then, in what did his faith waiver?
“Peter said to him, ‘Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.’ So he said, ‘Come.’ Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.” –Matthew 14:28-29, NET
Did you catch it? Peter’s initial faith was not on what he saw (Jesus on the water), but on what he heard (Jesus’ command to, “Come”). However, when the fear of his own life began to grip Peter's heart, he doubted the goodness of the word given, ceased in obedience, and began to sink.
God’s good character is bound up in His words. His commands are “reliable” (Psa 119:151), His promises are “trustworthy” (Heb 10:23), and His word is “perfect” and “pure” (Psa 19:7-9), because He is all those things (Mat 5:48; 1Co 10:13; Tit 1:2).
In addition, whatever He declares, He accomplishes (Isa 46:10). Therefore, God MUST equip the called. For what accompanies obedience to His commands? What did the LORD say to Moses (Exo 3:12), and to Joshua (Jos 1:9), and to Jeremiah (Jer 1:8-9), and to the disciples before Jesus’ ascension (Mat 28:19-20)? “I will be with you!” When we step out in faith to the LORD’s command (ex: “Go” or “Come”), His presence abides with us (Joh 15:1-8).
“If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love.” –John 15:10a, NET
Ask the LORD to bid you “come” this morning, and then open His wonderful word in faith. Be ready to respond to His commands and step out of the boat. Do not doubt. Meet with the LORD today by faithful obedience, continually abiding in His presence as He accomplishes through you everything He intends to do.
“You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep my faith will stand”
–Hillsong, “Oceans”
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