“Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.‘ But Jesus said, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.‘”
Jesus Feeds the Multitude
Jesus’ disciples wanted to send the people away because evening was approaching and they were in a remote place. They knew the people needed to reach the surrounding villages soon to buy food and possibly find lodging, or they would most likely be hungry. But Jesus had a better idea: “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16). Isn’t it interesting how we think that we know more than Jesus, just like the disciples. Jesus knew everything they knew and He also knew something more. He knew what was possible in the spirit realm. I guess the disciples never thought of that. They were only looking at what was going on in the natural, a situation that looked impossible.
In John 6:13 it states that they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps. To feed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish is indeed miraculous. Matthew 14:21 states that the 5,000 were men, “in addition to all the women and children.” Many Bible scholars believe the actual number fed that day could have been 15,000—20,000 people. Again, a miracle to feed so many with just a little.
Looking at the Visible (It’s Temporary)
You would think that the disciples would have remembered the many miracles they had seen Jesus do. He had been healing the sick all day. Yet Philip exclaimed in verse 7, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite or a little!” And Andrew asked, “What are five loaves and two fish for so many?” (John 6:9).
Little Is Much When God Is In It
Jesus would chatter our tiniest expectations, if we would learn to bring to Him what we have in our hand. “Little is much when God is in it.” God will use ordinary things to create the extraordinary, right before our very eyes.
For example, Philip’s mind immediately ran to the cost of the situation. He quickly calculated how many working hours it would take to feed all the people; he saw this as an impossible feat. He approached it as if everything depended on his efforts. Jesus’ approach was different. Jesus bypassed all human effort and did the impossible.
Nothing Is Too Big for Our God
Andrew was wondering, “What good are five loaves and two fish?” Of course, we know as believers, God can easily multiply whatever He wants, to feed as many people as He wants—He’s God. The problem comes when we are faced with a practical situation in our lives; that’s when we tend to doubt that God will meet our needs. But I’m here to tell you there is no problem or situation that’s too large for our God (Philippians 4:19).
Let’s compare this with the account in 2 Kings 4:42-44, in which one hundred men were fed twenty loaves of barley bread. The Lord instructed Elisha, give unto the people, that they may eat. Not only did the men eat, but there was food left over! In both accounts I mentioned (Matthew 14 and 2 Kings 4) the people were given bread to eat and some left over. Isn’t that just like God? He says He will do more than provide for His people; He will give an abundance (Psalm 132:15).
What do you have in your hand that appears impossible, or too small to meet your current need. Do you lack finances? Your health? Your business? It is all small in the eyes of God. We need to take Him at His word. Psalms 138:2 tells us that He magnified His WORD above His name. That is powerful. The NLT says, “for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.” If we have the backing of the Almighty through His promises, there should be no room for doubt in any area of our lives.
In our main text Jesus took the same apparent lack and fed thousands of people. Not because the resources had changed but because the VISION was different. Jesus was seeing “HE” who is invisible, and “HE” who is invisible will provide exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask, think or even imagine, according to the power that works in us. Maybe it’s time to get a different vision.
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