“OPEN THE FISHES MOUTH”
by thebaileydrink
MERRY WEDNESDAY -by Parris Bailey
“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 read the other day from an author that said the fish probably swallowed the coin because fish go for “shiny objects” and God would have foreseen this and he doesn’t commit forgery. (?) This is almost fun to play out. Someone was walking by the lake and either used a coin to watch it skip along the water, or maybe he went swimming and forgot about the coin in his pocket and it fell out. Then at some point this particular fish saw the shiny object and swallowed it and of all the fish in that lake, Peter went fishing, caught it and opened that fish’s mouth. To me that is more of a miracle and actually is fun to see how God works all things out for his glory!
I also love the pictorial image of Peter opening the fish’s mouth. The fish had a message and Peter was aiming to find it. The shiny object was given up and paid to Ceaser.
To others this miracle speaks of divine resources given to the sons of God. Wherever we go in life the Ceasers of this world want their payment but “lest we offend them” God has hidden resources in the mysterious places. We can count on the unlimited supply of resources God gives us because he gives to all men liberally. You will never lack the more you tap into your sonship, your inheritance and who you are in Christ.
Who knows Peter may have hated paying taxes and buckled under the Roman rule in his fishing business. And here is Jesus showing him that all is always provided. Just like the lilies always stayed clothed and the birds always are provided for.
The Bible says, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal. 4:4–7)
So its “really not that serious” in life. Coins are in fish’s mouths, axes swim, water comes out from the rock, rainbows whisper promises and meals get multiplied. God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts so that we truly may live abundant peaceful happy blissful lives.