God’s ways are higher than our ways, so it’s no wonder that some of His commands don’t always make sense to us. Throughout the Bible, we see examples of people being asked to do things that defy human logic. In the fifth and sixth chapters of Luke, Jesus repeatedly asked people to take actions that seemed irrational.
Consider the moment when Jesus commanded Simon Peter, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4b, ESV). To Simon, this request made little sense. As a seasoned fisherman, he knew the waters well and had just spent an entire night catching nothing. Exhausted and skeptical, he responded, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything…” Despite his doubts, Simon then added this significant phrase: “…but because You say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5, ESV). What followed was a miraculous catch of fish so abundant that it nearly shredded their nets.
Throughout Luke 5, we find additional instances where Jesus’ commands seemed illogical. After healing a leper, Jesus instructed the man not to tell anyone, but to “…go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them” (Luke 5:14, ESV). Later, in verse 24, Jesus tells a paralyzed man, “…get up, take your mat, and go home”—the very thing the man was unable to do. Yet, when he attempted to stand, he was completely healed. In Luke 6:6-10, another man with a withered hand was told by Jesus to “Stretch out your hand,” and when he did so, his hand was fully restored.
“We find additional instances where Jesus’ commands seemed illogical.”
Think about the strange commands given by God to His leaders in the Old Testament. “Abraham, pack up and move.” “Moses, extend your staff over the sea.” “Gideon, dismiss all but 300 of your army.” “Joshua, march around Jericho seven times, then blow the trumpets and shout.” None of these commands made much sense at the time, but they all led to miraculous outcomes.
Sometimes, God’s commands to us don’t make much sense to us either. For example, Jesus commands us in Mark 16:16 (ESV), “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” People often argue, “What does baptism have to do with changing my heart? If I trust in Christ’s death on the cross to save me, why do I need to get wet in front of others? It’s embarrassing!” But those with a humble heart respond, “Lord, because You say so, I will.”
What about the Lord’s command to give ten percent of our income back to Him? The Old Testament, in Malachi 3:10 (ESV), instructs, “Bring the tithe into the storehouse,” a principle Jesus affirmed (see Matthew 23:23). Tithing might not seem logical, especially during tough economic times. You might think, “Why would God ask me to give so much when I’m struggling to pay my bills? If I tithe, I might lose my motorcycle, my television, or have to cancel my vacation to Florida.” But our response should be, “Because You say so, I will.”
“Sometimes, God’s commands to us don’t make much sense either.”
Or consider the command in Matthew 18:15, which instructs us to personally confront a brother or sister who has sinned against us. We often hesitate, fearing the potential fallout, and instead, we stew over the offense for weeks. Yet, we should say, “Lord, confrontation makes me nervous, but because You say so, I will.”
There are many of God’s commands that challenge our human logic: forgive those who offend you, pray for your enemies, turn the other cheek when wronged, discipline a church member who strays into moral failure, show respect for those in authority even if you disagree with their policies, and remain faithful to your spouse even if you feel incompatible. Instead of questioning the results or believing we know better, our response should always be, “But because You say so, I will.”
Simon Peter’s obedience resulted in a miraculous catch of fish. Likewise, our obedience today will lead to receiving God’s favor and blessings beyond measure. The old hymn “Trust and Obey” captures this truth beautifully:
“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way.
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.”
For more teaching from Bob Russell, visit www.bobrussell.org. Used with permission.
