Page 31 - BACK TO BETHLEHEM

test.” I don’t even think they were thinking about the miracle
of the loaves. They were self-conscious. They are storm
conscious. They are thinking about their circumstance. They
aren’t thinking, “Oh, we’ve got to remember what He taught us
when He fed five thousand people.”
I think when the Bible says, “They are struggling at the
oars,” I think that is more than sore muscles. It’s more than sore
arms. Spiritually speaking, it’s frustrating that you can’t obey
God. They are weary and tired and defeated and maybe they
are even despairing. A Christian attempting to obey God in His
own strength will experience that kind of frustration; defeat and
failure. “I tried and I can’t. I want to obey and I can’t.”
Every command in this book is impossible. “Husbands
love your wives as Christ loved the church.” I say, “I can’t
unless I go to Jesus.” “Rejoice evermore. In everything and for
everything give thanks.” “Love your enemy.” “Pray for those
who curse you.” “Go the second mile.” “Be perfect as your
Father in heaven is perfect.” I say, “I can’t without Jesus.”
“Stretch forth your withered hand.” The man with the withered
hand said, “I can’t because it’s withered.” “Take up your bed
and walk.” The crippled man said, “I can’t. I’m crippled.”
“Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus said, “I can’t. I’m dead.” With
every command we need to keep coming to the Lord. So, they
were struggling at the oars. That’s looking at Jesus on the
mountain while He’s praying.
I told you that the second one was Jesus walking on the
water but it will make more sense to you if I do the third one
now. John 6:20&21, “But He said to them, ‘It is I; do not be
afraid.’ They were willing therefore to receive Him into the
boat; and immediately the boat was at the land to which they
were going.” In John 6:21 they received Him into the boat.
Mark 6:51&52, “And He got into the boat with them, and the
wind stopped; and they were greatly astonished, for they had
not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their
heart was hardened.”
I ask my own heart the question I ask you. Which would
you rather have? When I first started to study this, my heart
29