John 6:5 – So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?”
Unfortunately, we are becoming all too familiar with shortages and supply chain drama in our crazy world. Unaffordable gas, no formula for the babies, and food prices through the roof has suddenly snagged all of our attention. In the famous account of Jesus feeding the multitudes the common problem of lack is front and center.
The beauty of this story is that these multitudes had gotten into this particular predicament of lack because of following Jesus. Honoring and following the Lord puts you into a totally different category of provision. The creator of all things is there. How could there ever be lack when He is on the scene. Here is how the church father Romanus Melodus describes this conversation between the Lord and the disciples concerning their apparent lack.
“‘Master, we can find only five barley loaves;
No one of us brought anything into the desert,
But a child is here who has them.
O Lover of man, no other resource is possible for us.
For an enormous and boundless number of people, O Man of pity,
How can these five loaves be sufficient?
In addition, he has two fishes.
But hurry and nourish them, since Thou art
The heavenly bread of immortality.’
When Christ heard these words of His disciples,
He answered them in this way: ‘You are mistaken if you do not know
That I am the Creator of the universe; I provide for the world;
I now know clearly what these people need.
I see the desert and that the sun is setting;
Indeed I arranged the setting of the sun;
I understand the distress of the crowd which is here;
I know what I have in mind to do for them.
I myself shall cure their hunger, for I am
The heavenly bread of immortality.…’”
What a safe place to live in, following Jesus in His plan for your life. He raises the sun everyday, draws out the calendar of days for His purposes, and satisfies His creation with His abundance. How could He ever forget you? Impossible!!! So I say just stay close to Him, look to Him daily for all of your supply, keep taking His daily bread and bring a portion back to Him for multiplication and provision. This is the way we live our lives, eating from His hand. I would have it no other way.
