Luke 8:22-25 – “Now on one of those days Yeshua and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let’s move to the other side of the lake.” So, they set out. ²³ Then as they were sailing, He fell asleep. A violent windstorm came down on the lake, and they were swamped with water and in danger.

²⁴ They came to Yeshua and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re perishing!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging wave of water. Then they stopped, and it became calm.

²⁵ Then Yeshua said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!” TLV

The question for us to entertain is found in verse 25.  I have always found the topic of faith an interesting one.  For some, it is complicated and confusing.  For some, it is simplistic and clear, or so they say.  Some people have faith in action and others, like the disciples in our text have faith in the wrong place.  The question frightens some, fascinates some, and infuriates others. 

Many times, people talk about faith as though it were some mystical and lofty subject and believe that only the select of the elect can obtain and manifest it.  Some speak of faith saying things like, “If I just had faith or enough faith.”

This particular event stands out as Jesus speaks to them and says, in effect, “You thought I was sleeping but was it me, or your faith that was asleep?”  Some say, “Where is the LORD?”  But the question should be, “Where is our faith?”  So, I proceed by asking each person reading, “Where is your faith?”  To unravel the question several things are important to consider and realize.

It Is Not A Question of Having Faith.  We were told in Romans 12:3b – “God has assigned to each person a measure of faith.”  Thus, according to the Bible, everybody has faith in something and exercises that faith daily.  We could not operate in this life without faith, in something or someone.

It Is a Question of Where We Put or Place Our Faith.   I find it amazing, and it would be amusing were it not so serious, how many people put their faith in the second cause rather than the first great source – God!  I have often said, “We trust in what we know or believe.”  If we do not know who God is or the present application of His promises, we will trust what we know (self) rather than God.

I urge you to remember that most of these men in the boat were fishermen and well acquainted with the water.  They had undoubtedly had many experiences watching the winds and clouds.  What they say brought fear to their hearts.  Their faith in the storm was strong but their faith in the LORD or what they could achieve through faith was weak.  They viewed the danger from the position of their weakness not God’s strength. They understood the limitations of the boat they were in. 

Too frequently we trust the means as though everything depended on the vessel.  Co-dependent people hang on to others as though those people were in total control and were the source of life for them.  A businessperson may work diligently to establish networks, and, in those connections, they trust as though they were the source of success or failure.  A farmer may focus on the weather and act as if his crops had no other source but the sun and the rain.  A politician focuses on which party is going to be in the majority and makes decisions as if that party were the source of his political success.

Their faith is in second causes rather than the first great source – God!  So again, I ask “Where is your faith?”

I am going to pause here and pick this up in the next devotional.  May the LORD be with you and help you to place your total confidence in Him and His word rather than what you see, hear, feel, and think aside from Him! 

I am praying that you will have a wonderful day!