Daily Blast - The Book of Matthew: Chapter 15
Scripture
“32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.”
Reflection
Jesus didn't want to send the crowd home hungry! 4000 people had been with Him for three days and had now run out of food but He didn't want them to faint on their journey home. The reason I find this story so interesting is that the disciples had literally just encountered Jesus miraculously feeding FIVE thousand people which we read about in Matthew 14 where He provided for 5000 using five loaves and two fish and yet here, in an almost identical situation the disciples seem to have completely forgotten the miracle they had already encountered! They ask "Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?". I can almost imagine Jesus thinking "Are you serious!? Are you really asking me that after what just happened!?" and He then provides the 4000 (and more including the women and children) with seven loaves, a few small fish AND there's leftovers!!
As I read this story I felt so challenged, how many times do we forget God’s complete amazingness when faced with a new challenge or a difficult situation? How many times do we panic or try and work things out in our own strength, forgetting that the God who cares for us, provides for us, comforts us, guides us, loves us will continue to do so. Recent times have meant lots of new challenges for all of us, both joys and difficulties that we have never experienced before but it's good to be reminded that God is unchanging. He is our anchor, the One we can trust with all certainty knowing that 'all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28)
A little testimony of this in the Rass household; On Monday, Hope (our daughter) returned to school, she's in reception and was going to be introduced to a new situation where her class would join the year 1's and 2's and she would have a different teacher (whom she'd never met)! A lot of change for her and she was very anxious about it all. She was having a sore tummy in the lead up to returning to school and saying she didn't want to go! We prayed together and talked it all through but I suggested that on Monday she just go and say hello to the new teacher and that she could come home after that if she wanted to. Long story short, on the Saturday before her return we decided to go for a family bike ride and who did we randomly bump into!? The new teacher!! After meeting her for a short time her whole attitude changed and she was completely at peace about returning. God is so good!
Challenge
Let’s spend some time remembering our amazing God today. Even when we are faced with new and difficult circumstances our God never changes. Spend some time looking at the first verse in Psalm 107 and remember to give thanks to our God who is good.