The Principle of the Feeding of the 5,000
I got o
utside today and began some spring yard work. Nothing overly aggressive but at least an attempt to begin our preparations for an upcoming growing season. The other day when I was walking the dog, I saw a man in his yard with his sprinkler system on. I told him he was pushing the season. He said, he was bored.
My exercise to day was some impromptu home exercise and trying to vacuum the carpet from a chair or my walker. That was a new experience. I got the office done and rested.
I did make a quick trip to Aurora to Congressman Mike Coffman’s birthday party. It was good to see him once again. I gave him a “Ken Summers” mug, which I am sure he will value highly. 🙂 Both he and Cynthia have always been very gracious and supportive as I have recovered from my illness.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over.” Luke 9:16,17
This miracle of Jesus is one of the premier miracles of the gospel. It was reminiscent of, but far greater than the miracle of Elisha when we feed one hundred prophets with twenty loaves of bread. (2 Kings 4:43) It was a reflection of how the Lord provided manna in the wilderness for God’s people. When the people saw this miracle it inspired them to believe God’s kingdom had arrived. But in their hearts it was, “Jesus you supply the bread, we will supply the manpower and we can make you King.” That’s not what Jesus had in mind and shortly after this many stopped following Him.
But there is something more fundamental about the Lord’s provision and His work that is important to see. Jesus took these meager and inadequate resources, blessed them and used them to feed the multitude. I recall many years ago reflecting on this miracle and considering this divine equation. “A little, plus God’s blessing equals a miracle.” That is what I consider the principle of the feeding of the 5,000.
It begins with what is available. So often we focus more on what we don’t have, than what we do have. We focus on what we can’t do and not on what we can do. When God called Moses to a task way beyond himself, He asked one question, “what is in your hand?” Moses answered a rod, just a shepherd’s rod. Nothing unique or special. But the rod with God’s blessings became “The Rod of God.”
When the prophet Elijah met a widow woman who had just enough flour and oil for one last meal for her and her son, he asked her to bake one for him first. Pretty bold request! But when she obeyed in trust in the Lord the flour and oil multiplied and sustained her until the famine was over.
When Elisha met an impoverished widow of a prophet, who was facing the wrath of creditors, all she had was one little jar of oil. The prophet commanded her to collect all the jars in her house and all those she would borrow from her neighbors. She began to pour out the oil from the small vessel and it filled all the vessels in the house. She was able to sell the oil and pay her debts.
It requires the Lord’s blessing. That comes through prayer, through faith, through obedience. Jesus blessed the loaves of bread and the fish. The widows encountered by Elijah and Elisha had to act in faith and obedience to what they were instructed to do. Moses had to obey the Lord when he was instructed to throw down his staff, to stretch it over the Nile, to strike the ground, to strike the rock in the wilderness. What we do must be based in obedience and faith, knowing that it is the Lord’s blessing the changes the ordinary to the supernatural.
The miracles comes from our participation. I like how that Jesus broke the bread and fish and gave to His disciples who in turn fed the people. Elijah’s widow had to bake the bread, Elisha’s widow had to collect the vessels and pour out the oil. The plagues came on Egypt and the miracles took place in the wilderness on the Lord’s command and the words and deeds of Moses. What is exciting is that the Lord involves us in the miracles He performs. Jesus to his disciples said, “…these signs shall follow them that believe…” (Mark 16) Yes, God can and does act sovereign ways. But more often than not in the Bible and today, He works through people. People who have very little to offer, but surrender it to the Lord, asking His blessing, following His commands and as a result miracles take place, resources are multiplied and needs are met.
So, I have a question for you to consider, “what is in your hand?”