There are two sets of scriptures in the Bible telling of raging storms on the Sea of Galilee: Matthew 8:23-27 and Matthew 14:23-32. The Sea of Galilee by all standards is small in size, it is 13 miles long, 8 1/2 miles at its widest point, and has a maximum depth of 150 feet. One would ask, how can a body of water this small get so rough to bring fear into the disciples while crossing that body of water, as told in the Bible? The answer: the shallow depth, combined with the wind currents that are generated in that area, can make quite a storm.
When the winds blow hard over the sea, the water actually rocks back and forth, causing rough waves. It acts in the same principle as holding a shallow pan of water in your hands and tipping it from side to side. The constant high winds over the sea rocks the water back and forth.
In Matthew 14:23-32 the disciples were in serious trouble trying to row through a storm. Jesus saw this and walked across the water to help them. In tradition at that time, people in the area believed that demons and ghosts lived either in the desert or in great bodies of water. When they saw Jesus, their first thought was a ghost came up out of the water. You can imagine their initial fright. Here they are in a raging storm, at night, with a ghost coming out of the sea. But as soon as Jesus identified Himself and told them not to be afraid, they calmed down.
It’s the same in our lives, with all the raging storms rocking our boats, we need Jesus to calm the storm. Peter was then calm enough to get out of the boat and with his eyes on Jesus, start walking on the water towards Jesus. But once he took his eyes off Jesus and took notice of the raging storm around him, he started to sink. This is another lesson in life, no matter how bad your situation is, your sickness, financial problems, family problems, no matter how bad the storm is raging around you - never lose sight of Jesus.
Once you accept Jesus into your life, He will be in your boat, calming the storms. It is then a good idea to keep in daily contact with Him, through prayer, and don’t fall asleep and take your eyes off Jesus. In Matthew 8:23-27, the disciples are again crossing the Sea of Galilee in a terrible storm, this time Jesus was asleep in the boat. When the waves rose higher than the boat, the disciples in great fear awoke Jesus. He did not fear the storm, but because they did, he calmed the storm.
The boat and the storm represent our troubled lives, and the calling on Jesus to calm the storm, which not only involves love and faith in God, but most importantly, the trust we must have in God. To believe that He actually will calm the storm for us.
By George Konig
Christian Internet Forum
www.georgekonig.org
January 25, 2004
See a list of all of our commentaries