Why Hasn’t Shark Wrestling Killed Elliot Sudal?
The first encounter lasted 45 minutes in the water, finally
ending when Sudal dragged the live shark onto the beach. He photographed the animal
and then let it go.
Each time, he says, the scariest moment comes when he first
jumps in the water and grabs the shark with his hands. Because there’s a lot of
thrashing about, it’s hard to tell what is what, and the shark’s mouth could
easily find its way to his body.
Why hasn’t he been bitten yet? Sure, Sudal is a strong guy,
but there has to be more to it than that. Sudal has his own theory, but think
of what your answer is first. What would be the most logical explanation for
why a young man who has wrestled with over a hundred hungry sharks hasn’t been
killed—or even bitten?
Have your answer? Don’t keep reading until you do. Here’s Sudal’s
summary, given in a National Geographic article:
“They [sharks] can cut a fish in half no problem, so think
what they could do to a leg,” he said. “But knock on wood, I haven’t had any
problems yet.”
“Knock on wood.” Pure luck. That’s why he’s still in one
piece. Honestly, it’s an answer that makes sense. How else do you explain it?
Believe it or not, there’s a better answer. It’s seen more
clearly in another true story of a man who walked away from several deadly
wrestling matches with wild animals. Listen to how he explained his experiences:
“Your servant used to keep his
father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the
flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its
mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and
killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear” (1 Sam. 17:34-36).
Based on David’s description, it
almost sounds as if he had killed several wild animals in the past. Unlike Sudal,
he probably had some weapons at his disposal. But look at how he interprets the
events: “The LORD…delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the
bear” (v. 37).
“The Lord delivered me.” David
wasn’t just lucky. He did the physical fighting, yes. But he was aware that,
unless the Lord fights for us, we fight in vain. Ultimately, it was God who rescued
him from the threat of death.
Was David’s answer the same as your answer for Sudal? It’s
not how I typically think when hearing about narrow escapes. I too easily forget
God in the miraculous events in life—to say nothing of the daily grind. (It’s a
common temptation in affluent societies; see Deuteronomy 8:11-17.)
That’s why I’m thankful for David’s example, and for
countless other stories in the Old Testament. They repeatedly give us a glimpse
behind the curtain to see just how much God is at work in the world.
Our stance, I think, is often to view our situations through
the dirty lens of luck. “Man, you really dodged the bullet there.” “Wow, I
narrowly missed that one.” “Just think—one more inch and that would have ended
poorly.” “Can you believe how close I came to ending my life?” We acknowledge
the miraculous all the time—albeit, without actually acknowledge their
miraculous nature.
Here’s the application: Scripture tells us that every good
thing comes from God (Jas. 1:17). If you experience any blessing, it is
ultimately from His hand. That includes the time when
- You almost got into a car wreck but didn’t.
- You had given up your purse for lost, but then it was returned to you.
- You heard good news from the doctor when you were expecting bad news.
- You received an answer to prayer.
So let’s pray that we can cultivate a habit of pointing the
finger back to God when we are blessed. It will more closely align our thinking
with reality—and it will encourage us to experience more thankfulness in our
hearts.