Located in Alaska, the Kenai River is cold and fast and each year it seems to claim one person’s life. Because of the many camping sites along the river, the state’s various departments warn of the dangers of the river and its extremely cold water.

Andy Foor is a pastor from Everett, Pennsylvania and according to an article in the Peninsula Clarion, he was visiting Alaska this summer. One Saturday, July 16, 2016, he decided to go fishing along the banks of the Kenai River.

He arrived around 5:30 AM, and a short time later noticed two women walking along the banks of the river. He didn’t think much about it until he heard one of the women hollering. Her friend had fallen into the river.

When Foor turned he noticed the woman, who wasn’t wearing a life jacket, had gone completely under water. She disappeared for about 15 seconds, then bobbed up screaming for help because she couldn’t swim.

The current was carrying her out into the middle of the river. Foor didn’t know what to do. She was too far away for him or any of the other fisherman to swim out to her.

As he prayed, Foor heard a voice say to him, “Throw your line into the water.”

He had a 50 pound line on his rod, a heavy weight and large hook. When Foor thought about taking the hook off, the same voice told him to leave it on — everything would be fine. He cast out his line hitting the woman who quickly grabbed the line.

Using the current, Foor slowly reeled her in towards a nearby dock down-stream. When the woman reached the dock, people were waiting to pull her in.

As soon as she was on shore, the woman demanded to see the man who had saved her life.

The first thing Foor said to her is “The Father loves you, and He’s right here.”

Foor is convinced God told him what to do. I believe God gave Foor a word of wisdom on how to save this woman’s life.

⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; (1 Corinthians 12:8 NASV)

God was in it.

It reminds me of an incident that took place shortly after the Romans crucified Jesus. The disciples scattered. Peter along with a few fellow disciples went back to fishing — the job Peter was doing when Jesus first called him.

They decided to go night fishing (John 21:1-15), where they typically attached lights to the edge of the boats to attract fish.

But it had not gone well. Tired and frustrated after an unsuccessful night, in the morning they headed into shore. They were about a hundred yards out, when Jesus appeared on the beach.

He yelled out to Peter that he should throw out the net on the right side of the boat.

At this point, they were too far away to recognize Jesus, but like any fisherman decided to give one last cast. They tossed in their net and hit the mother lode.

John says they caught 153 fish.

Jesus basically gave Peter a word of knowledge about the fish. It was after this miracle that Peter realized the person they were talking to was the risen Christ.

In a darkening world, miracles, signs and wonders that include healing and words of wisdom and knowledge will be used by the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to men.

God will use these signs and wonders to confirm His word:

³ After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, ⁴ God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. (Hebrews 2:3-4 NASV)

As believers, we need to ask the Holy Spirit for His power to be expressed through you.

Seek the spiritual gifts while at the same time remembering one important detail — God wants you to use these gifts outside the church walls to reveal Jesus to the world.

Sources:

• Angler goes fishing, catches a human: Peninsula Clarion
• Angler catches woman instead of fish in Alaska, credits God for rescue: Gospel Herald