“Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”14 (About five thousand men were there.)” Luke 9.12-14
Some people tell this story and miss the point entirely. The feeding of the five thousand is not about man’s resilience or resourcefulness. It is about God revealing His power, period.
When Jesus asked the disciples to feed the crowd, it was not so they could look around and invite everyone with hidden fish and bread to contribute to the whole. I have heard this explanation before, and it is foolish.
When Jesus challenges His disciples, it is so He can show His glory. It is so He can say, “I know you cannot feed them—but watch what I can do.” God is not boasting; He does not need human affirmation. Rather, God generously demonstrates His power so that we might place our trust in Him.
Think of where we are in the saga of Jesus’ life. He has been doing miracles left and right—He just finished healing, preaching, and driving out demons. And now He wants the disciples to provide more food than they could buy with more money than they will ever see in their lifetime. Yet they, being dim-witted like us at times, respond, “We only have five loaves of bread and two fish.” The point was never for the disciples to take care of the needs of the masses—this is a job for Jesus.
And so, with an intentional outpouring of His power, Jesus produces a harvest of fresh bread and fish the likes of which had never been seen before. (Imagine an H-E-B grocery truck full of bread and fish backing up to your picnic!)
When we are in need, when we come up short, when we are lacking, God is our source of strength, faith, and hope. He is able to provide for us far more than we can hope for or imagine.
“O Lord God, thank You for Your provision. When I am weak, when I need to be restored, when I seek to be fed—You provide all that I could need. Come now, Holy Spirit; fill me with Your power and love. Help me be the person You have called me to be. I love You, Lord, and I glorify Your name, for You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen.