It Could be a Test

One of the Bible stories many of us are familiar with is when Jesus feeds the 5,000. Jesus had just healed a paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda. He then responds to the Jewish leaders who were harassing Him about breaking Sabbath rules. The disciples had also just returned from being sent out two by two, preaching and healing. Jesus says, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). So, they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. They cross over the Sea of Galilee. Jesus climbs a hill and sits down. However, because of all the miracles and healings, a huge crowd of people follow and before you know it thousands have shown up.

Jesus turns to Philip and asks, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people” (John 6:5)? If anyone knew where they might get food, it would have been Philip. He was familiar with the area because he was from Bethsaida, a town about nine miles away. However, Philip replies, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them” (John 6:6)! (Note, Jesus never asked about the cost.) No, this was a test. At first, He was testing Philip by asking for a human solution (knowing that there was none). Jesus wanted to teach Philip that financial resources are not the most important ones. Similarly, we can limit what God does in us by assuming what is and what is not possible. It was also a test for all the disciples. Andrew speaks up, “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish” but then he laments, “But what good is that with this huge crowd” (John 6:7)? The crowd, by the way, was more like 10,000 – not five. Verse ten tells us the 5,000-figure included only the men. When you include wives, mothers, and children the number increases exponentially. Still, neither Philip nor Andrew could see a solution to this dilemma. That was Jesus’ intention.

Jesus wanted His disciples (that includes you and me) to see that whenever we are faced with what appears to be an impossible hurdle, He can help us jump over it. Anything is possible with God. As the story goes, not only does Jesus feed the 10,000, but there are also twelve baskets of leftovers! You see, God gives in abundance. He takes whatever we can offer Him in time, ability, or resources and multiplies it beyond our wildest imagination.

Perhaps there is a task you are facing right now that seems too big, too difficult, too hard. You don’t have the energy or resources to overcome such a challenge. You’re spent. Tired. Weary. Have faith, my friends. Do not let our estimate of what can’t be done prevent us from taking on the task. God can do the miraculous! We bring what we have. In this case it was only five barley loaves and two fish. God can work with that because He’s not working with our resources so much as He is working with our faith. Trust Him to provide whatever else is needed.

There is no mountain too high. No valley too low. In fact, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible” (Matthew 17:20). Jesus can feed thousands. He can help us complete whatever task we have been given. Remember, if it looks impossible, it could be a test. What we need to do is take the first step. Make ourselves available to the LORD. Show Him our faith. Take whatever it is we have and give it to Him to use. He will show us how greatly we can be used to advance the work of His kingdom. He always has. He always will.            

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