When He Had Finished Speaking

Luke 5:4 – "When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.'"

I was quite intrigued by this phrase and especially at this juncture. A simple conjunction but yet there is a profound stillness in this phrase—“When He had finished speaking.” It is a moment that could easily be overlooked, a simple transition in the narrative. Yet, within these words lies a powerful revelation about the nature of God’s timing and purpose. That is why we must linger in the presence of the Lord as we delve into His Word, allowing Him to unveil the hidden treasures woven within the fabric of each narrative.

Picture the scene: Jesus stands by the water’s edge, His voice carrying over the waves as He speaks the words of life. The crowd listened intently, captivated by His wisdom. Yet, just a short distance away, Simon sits by his boat, weary and burdened. He has toiled all night and caught nothing. His nets were empty, his heart was heavy, and his mind was clouded with worry.

But Jesus does not immediately turn to him. He continues teaching. He finishes the message before addressing Simon’s need. Jesus was fully aware of Simon’s situation. He knew of his empty nets, his exhaustion, and his anxiety. Yet, He did not rush to solve Simon's problem. He did not interrupt the teaching to tend to the fisherman’s plight.

Why? Because Jesus knew His priorities. His mission was not merely to meet physical needs but to transform lives with the truth of God’s Word. At that moment, the multitudes hungered for the message of the Kingdom. Their spiritual need was greater than Simon’s material lack.

How often do we forget this truth? We come to God with our needs, our demands, and our deadlines, expecting Him to respond immediately. But God does not operate on our timetable. He is never in a hurry, never pressured by urgency, and never driven by emotions. Just as He did on that shore, God speaks before He acts. His Word precedes His work. Before He moves in our situation, He first wants to move in our hearts.

There was a holy tension in the waiting. Simon sat by his boat, his hopes sinking with the sun. Every minute must have felt like an eternity. Yet, Jesus continued speaking.

There are moments in life when God seems silent, when we sit by our empty boats, weary and waiting, wondering why He delays. Yet, His silence is not absence. His delay is not denial. He is speaking, even when we do not perceive it. Sometimes, before God moves in our circumstances, He wants us to sit and listen. To wait upon His Word. To receive His truth before receiving His provision. Jesus could have easily performed the miracle first. He could have filled Simon’s nets in an instant. Yet, He chose to speak first. He wanted Simon to listen before he received.

Why? Because the Word prepares the heart for the work. Before Simon could handle the blessing, he needed to hear the message. Before the miraculous catch, he needed the life-changing truth. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

In the same way, there are times when we must sit and listen before we see the breakthrough. God wants to align our hearts with His purpose, to prepare us for what He is about to do.

Before the blessing, there is the lesson. Imagine if Simon had walked away. He could have left in frustration, drowning his sorrows in defeat. He could have given up, convinced that nothing would change. But he stayed. He waited until Jesus finished speaking.

This was an act of surrender, a posture of humility. He chose to listen, even when his heart was weary. And because he waited, he received both the Word and the miracle.

How often do we rush ahead of God? Impatient and anxious, we demand answers on our timetable. Yet, God invites us to wait on His Word, to listen before we see. When God seems to delay, it is not because He is indifferent. It is because He is speaking. He is preparing us, shaping us, and building our faith.

“When He had finished speaking...” Only then did Jesus address Simon’s need. The Word preceded the work.

If Jesus, the Son of God, prioritized speaking before acting, how much more should we prioritize listening before demanding? There is a divine order to His process: Hearing before harvest, Word before wonder, message before miracle. God’s Word is the seed that brings forth the harvest. If we rush the process, we miss the preparation. But if we wait and listen, the result will be abundantly above all we can ask or imagine.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, teach me to wait upon Your Word. When my heart is anxious and my spirit weary, help me to sit in stillness, listening for Your voice. Forgive me for the times I have rushed ahead, demanding answers on my timetable. Remind me that Your Word always precedes Your work. Give me the patience to wait until You have finished speaking, knowing that Your timing is perfect and Your purpose is good. Open my heart to receive Your truth before I receive Your provision. In the waiting, increase my faith and deepen my trust. In Your precious name, Amen.

May we learn the wisdom of waiting, the humility of listening, and the faith to trust when He has finished speaking. For His Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11), and when He speaks, the miraculous is always near.