Loaves, Fish and Faith

God’s amazing faithfulness is chronicled in the Bible starting at Genesis. God’s amazing faithfulness is chronicled in our lives from the first breath we took up through this very moment. Once in a while, even though they are right in front of us, we fail to see His tremendous blessings – or wonder if He will always take care of us.

In Mark 8 we find a crowd of 4,000 has gathered. To summarize Mark 8:1-9, the people have nothing to eat and Jesus has compassion on them. The disciples have seven loaves of bread. Jesus breaks the loaves, blesses them and then blesses a few small fish. The 4,000 people eat and are satisfied. The leftovers fill seven baskets.

Then, Jesus and the disciples get into a boat to go to Dalmanutha. After a discussion with the Pharisees, He and the disciples get into the boat again.

Now, the disciples only brought one loaf of bread with them While they are in the boat the second time they discuss that they have no bread.

Mark 8:17-18: “And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?”

Where’s Your Faith
What were the disciples not understanding? What didn’t they see or hear?

Sometimes we see God working marvelously in our life and in the world, but then doubts arise when we think He has forgotten us and we start discussing (or worrying) that — even though God has always provided for us in the past — maybe this time He won’t.

Sometimes, God provides us with work or health and then we lose a job or get sick. Suddenly, we cry out, “Where are you God! Oh, God, will you really provide another job or heal my body?” Our memories can be awfully short sometimes.  Didn’t God provide for your needs before?

Sure He did! So what’s happened between then and now?

We’ve lost faith.

Jesus says to the disciples in Mark 8:19-20, “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.”

If your faith is waning today – or it has drained away – remember how God provided for you at various times over your life. Did he ever not provide?  If you have the strength and energy to read this post, you know He has sustained you all of your life! You may have only had a small morsel of food (or perhaps no food at times) but, again, you are alive today. Your health may not be perfect, but you are alive and reading this post.

Mark 8:21 – And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

God provides our daily bread, our daily sustenance, clothing and some sort of roof over our heads. It may not be all that we want at times, but it is all that we need according to God’s sovereign will.

On the spiritual side, Paul writes in Philippians 4:1, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Not only does God provide life giving sustenance, He provides spiritual strength to maintain our focus on Him through all circumstances. It is available in abundance.

Whether it is our daily physical needs or our spiritual need, it is a matter of faith that we take hold of them. You’ve seen what God has done since Genesis 1:1 up to today, so you can surely trust that He will provide today and in the future!

Trust Him – and Him alone – and watch your blessings multiply!