Walking on Water By Ivan Aivazovsky

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Pentecost 11 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
August 9, 2026
Job 38:4-18, Rom. 10:5-17, Matt. 14:22-33

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            There is a phrase that parents frequently use that children hate… and kids promise they will never say it to their own children…until they do.  After being given an instruction the child demands to know, “Why?” and the parent responds…”because I said so.”  Kids hate this; having to obey, without explanation, just because the parent is in charge.  This causes great frustration… not just for children, but for everyone when you are reminded… that God is God and you are not.  As a child of God, you are to fear, love, trust and obey God even when you do not understand why God is doing what He is doing. 

            In the sermon today we are going to do something we do not often do.  We are going to talk about all three of our scripture readings and the Psalm.  In our lessons today we have examples of folks learning that God is God from the lives of Job, David, Jesus’ 12 disciples (especially Peter), and from you.

            Job has been complaining to God about his situation — which is terrible.  His children are dead, his wealth is gone, his health is rotten.  He has painful sores all over his body.  His life has completely fallen apart and he is a shell of his former self.  Job complains to God and appeals to God based on his own piety and good behavior; how much he did for others and how much others respected him.  Job asks, Job 31:3 (ESV) 3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?”  Job complains to God and questions God’s actions, basically saying, “Why me?  I don’t deserve this.”

            God answers Job in our Old Testament lesson today with a sharp rebuke.  Job 38:4 (ESV) 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”  Job 38:5 (ESV) 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?”

            Job is told he has no standing to question God’s actions. It is a harsh rebuke and we can certainly hear this and think that all God is saying to someone experiencing trouble is to be quiet and take it.  But as we keep reading we find comfort in God’s words.  Job is told to trust that God is in control.  He will take care of things.

            God is the creator and He makes an orderly, good creation, Job 38:6–7 (ESV) 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

            God is in control and puts limits on chaos as shown by His boundaries on the seas and on darkness, Job 38:8–11 (ESV) 8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9 when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?”

            God also will punish the wicked and beautifully portrays the morning dawn shaking out the wicked like someone shaking crumbs off a skirt.  Job 38:12–13 (ESV) 12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, 13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?”  Also, Job 38:15 (ESV) 15 From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.” 

God is in charge, He provides an orderly creation, He limits chaos and He puts down the wicked.  Instead of questioning God based on Job’s own goodness and reputation, Job should trust that God is in control.

            In our Gospel reading we find the disciples out on the Sea of Galilee, battling waves and a strong headwind.  After Jesus fed the 5,000 He dismissed the crowds, sent the disciples out in the boat and went up on the mountain to pray.  A journey all the way across the Sea of Galilee should take only a couple of hours, but the disciples who departed around sunset are still rowing and it is now sometime after three in the morning.  It is a long, hard night, but a number of the disciples are seasoned fishermen for whom this is nothing new.  As they continue to battle the chaos of the sea they spot a figure walking on the water coming toward them. 

            The disciples are terrified…they proclaim, “It is a ghost!”… they cry out in fear.  Jesus responds to each these.  Matthew 14:27 (ESV) 27 … “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  Take heart to calm the terrified.  “It is I”, to show He is not a ghost.  “Do not be afraid,” because they cried out in fear.  This should be enough for the disciples.  Trust Jesus and His Word.  But, for one disciple, it is not enough.  Peter does not trust Jesus’ words.  He needs to test this water-walking apparition.  Matthew 14:28 (ESV) 28 … “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  Peter does not trust Jesus’ words and needs to be a part of the action.  After Jesus invites Peter out onto the water Peter’s faith in Jesus is overwhelmed by the reality of the wind and the waves and Peter begins to sink.  At that moment, Peter suddenly knows who He must trust and cries out, “Lord, save me.”  Matthew 14:31 (ESV) 31 Jesus immediately reache[s] out his hand and [takes] hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Jesus and Peter get into the boat and the wind ceases and the disciples worship Jesus saying, Matthew 14:33 (ESV) 33 … “Truly you are the Son of God.”  The disciples learn, once again, to trust in Jesus because He is God… and God is in control.

As you ponder our reading from Romans you can find yourself in a different place. Romans 10:9 (ESV) 9 …if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  This describes you. You confess Jesus is Lord and you believe He is risen from the dead.  You are saved by the blood of Jesus, but as a Christian you can struggle with the idea, “Why me?  I don’t deserve this.”  This is the same as Job, but opposite.  God, why have you done this good for me?  You are the Lord’s great treasure.  You are the pearl of great price.  Jesus gave up everything and died on the cross for you.  Salvation is yours.  But…you ask… “Why me?”  Why Lord have you done this for me? Romans 10:11–13 (ESV) 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  You are tempted to believe that you cannot be saved; that you haven’t done enough, given enough, served enough, prayed enough, studied enough. You are tempted to believe that your sin is more powerful than the blood of Jesus.  You want to question God’s salvation.

You say, “Why me?  I don’t deserve this.”  When you look back to Romans 9 you see that it is not your place to ask.  Romans 9:15 (ESV) 15 For [the Lord] says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  Romans 9:19–21 (ESV) 20 … who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay…?”  God wants all people to be saved and yet not all are saved.  Why are you saved and others not?  That is not for you to question, but simply to rejoice in God’s mercy on you and tell others the Good News that Jesus has mercy enough for everyone.

            It is not for you to ask “Why me?” whether in times of trouble, or in wondering why God has chosen you for salvation.  The Lord is the Lord and He is in control.  When pondering spiritual matters do not seek answers in your own actions, instead look to God’s mercy shown in Jesus.  Cry out to the Lord for help in trouble and praise the Lord for your salvation… but do it knowing God is in control.  God is God even when you do not understand what is happening and why it is happening.

            In our Psalm today we learn from David.  Before becoming king, David works with and for King Saul. David is a great helper and soldier, but Saul is jealous of David.  King Saul is a tall, handsome warrior.  David is also a handsome warrior, but the problem is that David is a better warrior and a better person.  This enrages Saul and he repeatedly tries to kill David.  He will tell David that everything is fine so David will come and play the lyre for Saul, but then Saul’s jealousy drives him to try to spear David and pin him to the wall.  This happens over and over.  David remembers these times in Psalm 18 in which David looks to the Lord as the source of strength and protection.  Psalm 18:1–3 (ESV) 1 I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”

            David trusts in the Lord and cries out to Him in His distress.  Psalm 18:4–6 (ESV) 4 The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; 5 the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”

            God is God and you are not.  It is a hard lesson.  You want to understand everything, but you cannot understand the ways of God.  As the Lord teaches in… Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV) 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

            You are tempted to make demands of God based on your actions but that is fruitless.  Instead, rejoice in God’s undeserved mercy and grace.  Call out to Him for help.  Trust in His mercy and grace.  The Lord is your rock and your fortress and your deliverer, your God, your rock, in whom you take refuge, your shield, and the horn of your salvation, your stronghold.  Call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and you are saved from your enemies.”  Amen.