In all four Gospels, we read the miracle story of the feeding for the Five Thousand. (plus, women and children!) There are many aspects to this most enthralling moment and some that can be overlooked.
In verse 34 in Marks account, we read: – When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. The story continued with the disciples coming upto Jesus later on and saying that it was late and that he, Jesus should dismiss the crowds and instruct them to go and buy their own food. But in verse 37, Jesus responded by saying to the twelve:- But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” Even then, the disciples continued to grumble and presented to Jesus all they had found, which was five loaves of bread and two fish.
Jesus initially had ‘compassion’ on the people, but the disciples were quick to ‘dismiss’ them. Sometimes, we can look at people and come to an assumption that we have little to offer and what on earth can we do? With that, we can also easily lose any compassion we may have felt.
As our journey with Christ continues, there will be those moments that present themselves not too dissimilar from the above! We WILL feel compassion and immediately our thoughts turn to what provisions we have in our hands! We then try and formulate our plan and how it is to work and then, more likely we will draw the conclusion that it was not meant to be – another opportunity missed.
When an opportunity arises, it is more than likely from prayer or when you have been seeking the Lord. A whisper from God will be heard and at that moment, will you trust that voice – the leading of the voice to act and do something so ‘foreign’ to our natural selves? You look in your hands, what you have at that moment and the Lord is whispering – “go on, do it!” The little food of loaves and fish were placed in the hands of Jesus – He blessed it and the miracle was brought forward! Bring your little at that moment, place it before Jesus and say, “Ok Lord – you said it, I believe it – let’s see what happens!”
The more we learn to step out in faith with the little we have; we too can witness incredible miracles brought about by Jesus! Amen!!
