Matt.14:17 – TPT – They answered, “But all we have is five barley loaves and two fish.”
The disciples found themselves staring at this little boy’s lunch. Apparently it was a few pieces of barley bread (the cheapest bread) and some fish relish (think sardines). The lunch was so small it was laughable yet the need was enormous. It seems that’s the way the Lord always does things. You know, build a boat large enough to carry animals from every species because a world wide flood is coming, or like he told Moses, lead these 1 million slaves in Egypt and start a nation where I gave a promise over 400 years ago to Abraham. Or maybe take twelve fishermen, tax collectors, and political activists and tell them to preach the gospel to the whole world. You get the picture, the Lord delights in the impossible because that is the place we see the power of His goodness and His greatness. So the disciples took that ridiculous lunch and brought it to Jesus. That was their only option, and that’s where the miracle took place. Here is how Spurgeon describes this scene.
“See how they overhaul their provisions; and they report, “We have here but five loaves.” With what a gloomy “but” they show how lean is the larder (cupboard)!
Those two sardines make the stock seem positively ridiculous. It is a good thing for us to know how very poor we are, and how far from being able to meet the wants of the people around us. It is for our good to be made to confess this in so many words to our Lord. Truly, he who writes this comment has often felt as if he had neither loaf nor fish; and yet for some forty years and more he has been a full-handed waiter at the King’s great banquets.”
After the ridiculous request followed by the obedience of faith miracles happen. The Lord filled the boat with animals, Moses (with the help of Joshua) birthed a nation, and the work of the fishermen is still happening today. What was the common denominator other than the impossibility of their circumstances? Each one acted in faith, they saw that they couldn’t but the Lord was more than enough. What kind of ridiculous task is in front of you? Take the little that you have even though it is grossly insufficient and watch the Lord work His signs and wonders.
