Troublesome Topic: COOL LESSONS FROM FINS AND SCALES

A PARADOX INVOLVING SCALES

In the Law of the Old Testament, scales were required in order for fish to be considered clean. But wait a minute, this appears to contradict other parts of Scripture where scales represented something evil.

For example, snakes have scales, right? and, while there are a few exceptions in the Bible, we usually associate snakes with the serpent of Eden, which was the very embodiment of evil.

In the story of David and Goliath, the Bible tells us that Goliath’s armor looked like scales. The statement seems to indicate to the reader that Goliath was connected to the serpent of the Garden of Eden; he was evil.

But in the case of fish, scales are not only good, they are required. So, what gives?

For the purpose of this study, the difference between fish and reptiles is their environment. The animals described in the verses shown above live in the water while snakes (and other reptiles) live close to the dust f the ground.

Therefore, it seems like the true problem was dust!

The Hebrew word for “dust” also means “debris, rubble, rubbish, and ashes.” All of these are worthless leftovers from destructive processes. Even though this passage pertains to animals that live in the water, the most important word in it is a word that is not used even once, the word “dust”.

In contrast to the worthlessness of dust, water is very important; it is life-giving, it cleanses, and in certain contexts it represents abundance.

Sometimes the sea represented a place of danger and death because in it, ships were smashed to pieces on the rocks and fearsome sea monsters lived. But in this case only the positive images associated with water were intended. 

Now consider the words of Jesus recorded in Lk 11:11 (and also Mt 7:10) when he said,

Which of you is the [kind of] father who, the son asks for a fish, and instead of a fish he will give him a snake?” Here Jesus mentions both types of animals that have scales, one good and the other bad. One lives in life-giving water, the other in the post-destruction debris called dust. Jesus expected His audience to understand the difference and remember the teaching of the Old Testament food laws.

By environment I mean both the spiritual condition within each person, and the spiritual influences around each person. God will not hold responsible someone who finds themselves surrounded by negative spiritual influences if that person is purposeful about maintaining a strong relationship with God. The danger comes from placing oneself in a dangerous environment by personal choice in order to indulge in those negative influences.

WHY DID GOD GIVE FISH FINS? WHAT DO THEY USE THEM FOR?

Fish have 5 or 6 types of fins. Fish with anatomy similar to this largemouth bass have five fins. Fish that resemble this catfish have six fins. Each fin or set of fins serves a different purpose. The powerful caudal fin (the tail) is for propulsion, meaning it serves to push the fish through the water, sometimes at great speed.  All the other fins have something to do with direction. Some allow the fish to change or keep a direction (e.g. turning   or angling up or down in the water), some stabilize the fish, keeping it from rolling over in the water, (an upside down fish is usually not a good thing),   others provide for slight movements in calm waters (even going backwards). What I want you to remember here is that most fins have to do with direction.

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM FINS

A fish’s fins should remind us to stay headed in the right direction. If we stop heading in the right direction and start heading in the wrong direction, bad things will begin to happen, most likely, we will be removed from a life-giving environment and find ourselves in an environment of death.

Thereforewe should carefully choose what direction we are headed in by evaluating each area of our lives. These choices should be based on careful study of the Bible, … not on culture, … not on friends, … not on our personal preferences, … and definitely not on our selfish desires.

  A fish’s fins also help stabilize them in their watery environment. How about you? Does stability characterize your life, or do you get upside down at times? 

Just like most fish have powerful tail fins that help them make fast get-aways, God wants His followers to have the power to act for His glory in all situations. Our movements will seldom be fast or impressive, but they should demonstrate qualities that are beyond our natural abilities. One of those qualities might be a willingness to serve outside our strengths. My Dad was not musical at all; he admitted that he couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. But he was willing to lead singing on many occasions.

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM SCALES

Scales are for protection, but protection from what?

In the water, scales were a symbol of protection against evil, for even in a healthy environment, there are some evils to protect against.

If something living in the water did not have the protection of scales, it was considered “isolated.” This teaches us that we always need spiritual protection, even if we say “I don’t need that.” In reality, when we think we are above being tempted, we are in the greatest danger of all.

But, what if someone has placed themselves in an environment that is almost entirely negative? What is their system of protection protecting them from in such a case? Thanks for asking – scales in a bad setting represent protection from the influence of something good. For instance, some people are resistant to the gospel, while others mock the most important aspects of life and spirituality. People who want to continue living in a sin-filled environment don’t want to submit to God, so they try to insulate themselves against God’s influence by adopting ideologies that exclude God and excuse all types of behavior. Rather than refraining from doing things that cause guilt, they justify their actions and convince themselves that their vile deeds are honorable.

Just like fish are protected by scales, we need protection from negative spiritual influences around us. Our protection comes primarily from 4 things: hunger-driven Bible reading,… God-glorifying prayer,… constant personal worship,… and the support and encouragement of other believers. Let’s choose to stay in a wholesome, clean, life-giving environment and use the methods of protection God has made available to us so we can be a good example to others.

CONCLUSION

Just like fish use fins for direction, we should carefully choose what direction we are headed in for each area of our lives. These choices should be based on Biblical teaching, not on our own desires.

Just like good fish have scales for protection, we always need spiritual protection in our lives. That protection comes from hunger-driven Bible reading, God-glorifying prayer, constant personal worship, and the support and encouragement from other believers. Like a good fish, if we are in a wholesome, clean, life-giving environment and use protection against infringing evil, we are acceptable to God and a good example to others. However, if we are like bad fish by choosing to remain in an environment filled with useless things that are byproducts of destruction, we are not acceptable in God’s eyes and must be isolated from other people lest we influence them by our bad example.

SPIRITUAL LESSONS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTS

By environment I mean both the spiritual condition within each person, and the spiritual influences around each person. God will not hold responsible   those who find themselves surrounded, by no fault of their own, by negative spiritual influences if they are purposeful about maintaining a strong relationship with God. The danger comes from placing oneself in a dangerous environment by personal choice in order to indulge in those negative influences, or at least flirt with them.

We must learn to discern the difference between –

Uplifting environments and destructive ones,

Beneficial activities and useless activities

Healthy relationships and dangerous ones

Protective habits and enslaving habits

Entertainment that pleases God and that which pleases self.

We should ask ourselves:

“Do I stay away from activities that are useless and have no value?

Do I refuse to associate with things related to destruction and harm?

Have I created the right environment in my heart and mind – one that has been cleansed from evil influences? One that is life-giving?”