“[9] Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. [10] For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little…” Isaiah 28
We study the Bible by pairing scripture with scripture. As you read through the Bible you will make more and more connections each time. For example, I was reading in Luke 5 the account of Jesus filling the disciples nets with fish:
[4] “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. [5] And Simon answering said unto him, Master we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. [6] And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. [7] And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink." Luke 5
(As it is written in James 2:17, ‘Faith if it hath not works is dead’, but we see here that works without faith are dead as well.)
[8] When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. [9] For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: [10] And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” Luke 5
Jesus arrives to give Simon some good news. Instead of laboring away for meat that perishes, Jesus is offering him a job that pays great dividends in heaven – laboring in the gospel. We are not saved by our own works, salvation is a gift, but salvation frees us to work in this life for things that actually please God and will yield rewards on top of our eternal life with God.
Compare this to what happens to Abraham in Genesis 15.
“And he brought him forth abroad and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” Genesis 15:5
The stars of the heaven, the fish of the sea, this is how prosperous the Lord makes his laborers in the gospel. This is how many we can lead to Christ if we just trust him.
(“Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54)
Notice what happens after these encounters with the Lord in Luke and Genesis:
“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” Luke 5:11
“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6
Abraham had already forsaken his lands and country men to follow the Lord in Genesis 12, as the disciples all do in each account of their first encounter with Jesus. Genesis 15:6 is there to remind us that faith is what is counted for righteousness in the eyes of God, not our own works “lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9)
Be bold and preach the gospel, even in these dark days. “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” Matthew 9:37
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