Sleeping in the Storm

Introduction

Underlying Context: To understand the context of this story, we need to understand a Jew’s relationship with dangerous waters and Israel’s history of seeing God’s power over water.

Exodus 14 tells the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea. On the bank of the sea, the Israelites question Moses’ motives.

Exodus 14:11 ESV

They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?

Translation: Don’t you care that you have brought us out here to die? What were you thinking?

Psalm 106:8–9 ESV

Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.

Matthew is drawing on the Exodus story and using elements and language from it to teach something about who Jesus really is - Yahweh in the flesh.

Tip: When reading the New Testament, look for hyperlinks to the Old Testament. These hyperlinks give depth and understanding.

Understand

Matthew 8:23–24 ESV

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.

Sea of Galilee = 8 mi. E to W x 13 mi. N to S

Great Storm = Cool air from the Mediterranean Sea to the east and hot air from the desert to the west would come together on the Sea of Galilee, causing violent storms over the water.

Swamped = καλύπτω kaluptō - to cover, hide

Asleep = καθεύδω, katheúdō - to fall asleep, a state of rest/calm - OT hyperlink Jonah 1:5

Question: What would you think of Jesus if you were on the boat during the storm?

Question: How do you respond when it seems like God is sleeping through your storm?

Matthew 8:25–26 ESV

And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

They went and woke him = The boat is sinking and they have to wake Jesus to get His attention.

Save us = This implies that they believed He could save them from the storm. Therefore, their lack of faith is not in Jesus’ power, but in His identity and His willingness to save.

Perishing = ἀπόλλυμι apŏllumi - to be fully destroyed - Their fear is a stark contrast to Jesus’ state of mind.

Why are you afraid? = δειλός dĕilŏs - cowardly, timid, faithless

Little Faith = ὀλιγόπιστος ŏligŏpistŏs - lacking trust, not in Jesus’ ability but in His willingness/character (see Mark 4:38)

QUESTION: When you are worried, afraid, or doubting, is it a question of God’s ability or His character?

Rebuked = ἐπιτιμάω epitimaō - to verbally correct someone or something

Great calm = lit. mega tranquility - it was so calm that it would have seemed very unusual

Matthew 8:27 ESV

And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Marveled = θαυμάζω thaumazō - to be amazed, mind-blown - Mark 4:41 tells us they were filled with great fear

What sort of man is this = ποταπός pŏtapŏs - lit. what kind of human could this possibly be - a question of origin (where does this kind of human come from)

IMPLICATION: This Jesus is not simply a human that God is using. Jesus is God Himself in human form.

Apply

God is often silent but never absent.

Our struggle is not with trusting in God’s power, but with trusting in God’s character.

If the wind and waves obey Jesus, we should follow their example.