Loaves and Fishes

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    In several places in the gospels, the story is told of Jesus taking a few fish and loaves and feeding a multitude.  One story it is 5,000 men and another situation is 4,000 men not counting women, children and slaves.  Have you ever wondered why these stories are emphasized so much in the gospels?

     In Matthew 14:13-21, we have the story of the 5,000 that were fed.  It says that the disciples realized the people were getting hungry and told Jesus that he should send the people away that they might buy food.  But, when they said this Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!" verse 16.   The disciples are quick to point out the impossibility of this claiming that they only have five loaves and two fish.  These fish were more like sardines and what is that among thousands.

  In Marks account of this same story in Mark 6 it says that one of the disciples remarked that it would take two hundred denari (about 7 months wages) for them to have something to eat and even then they wouldn't be full. 

  Why, in God's infinite wisdom, did he allow them to get into this situation?  Did you ever notice that sometimes God will allow you to walk into a situation where there is a crisis of faith?  Jesus himself walked into the wilderness to face temptation early on in his ministry.  Peter had to step out of the boat and walk on water to Jesus.  Faith must be tried through the furnace of affliction to be purified.  The disciples faith was still very weak.  So, he put them in this situation to teach them to trust Him.

   One of the things you don't see in this passage is Jesus in a panic.  He already had a plan.  What looked impossible to the disciples was plain and ordinary to Jesus.  I think it is the same with us.  Sometimes he just says to us "Go and look" and lets us see how impossible the situation is and waits for us to bring it to him.  Notice in this passage in Matthew 14:18 Jesus says, "Bring them here to me."  Then, our weak efforts and insufficient efforts are more than enough.  Only then, are we adequate.  Because we are conquerors only through Him.

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