Miraculous Provision

This morning I felt I should read from Mark 6:31-44 NIV:

[31] "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” [32] So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. [33] But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. [34] "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

[35] By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. [36] Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

[37] But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages ! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

[38] “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five---and two fish.”

[39] Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. [40] So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. [41] Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. [42] They all ate and were satisfied, [43] and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. [44] The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand."

I love this story for several reasons. First, it is because of the Lord's compassion that He ministers to these people in the first place. His heart is moved by those that are hungry for His teaching and touch.

Second, He recognizes the physical hunger as well as their spiritual hunger and meets their need miraculously. If you look closely at the verses, its apparent they had enough money to buy the bread for all those people, but the apostles didn't want to do that, nor did the Lord! He knew that the Father wanted to demonstrate His ability to touch the Father's divinity and power (this is clearly a miracle of creation). He also knew that the Father wanted Him to demonstrate that He was the good shepherd, for a shepherd's responsibility is to feed the sheep. This is a perfect picture of sheep being fed, laying down on the mountain, being fed to the point of satisfaction!

Finally, when the apostles gave out of their own need (if you read at the beginning of the story Jesus was trying get them away from the crowd to rest and eat - verse 31) the very food they were planning to eat themselves, God provides for them a much greater abundance. This is such an awesome example of how the Lord can intervene in a situation when we turn what we have over to Him.

This is a pretty significant principle in the Kingdom. Whatever we give to the Lord, He will return to us with interest and even abundance. Jesus spoke about this principle several times. This is the sowing and seed principle - in this case demonstrated with food. The disciples needed food, but rather than eating it for themselves they gave it to the Lord, and in return they ate until they were filled and collected 12 baskets full at the end. That is a very good harvest from the little seed they sowed of five loaves and two fish. Other times that I can think of where Jesus discussed this principle are found in Matt 19:27-30 (Jesus describes the rewards for those who have given up things to follow Him); Matt 25:14-30 (The parable of the Talents); Matt 6:28-34 (Seek first the Kingdom).

So I am encouraged today that the Lord cares for my spiritual and natural needs. He understands my situation and has exactly what I need. He also has more than I can imagine if I will entrust my needs and resources to Him. He desires to show Himself as my provider, my Good Shepherd and as such will be faithful. I need to listen to what He is saying and trust Him that He will meet my needs. Finally if I trust Him with my resources, many others will be blessed as well by the miraculous provision He provides!

Amen Lord, that is the kind of life I want to experience!