Trust and Obey...

We had a missionary speaker at church this week, and as we often find, the sermon seemed to be custom made for our ongoing trial...


He spoke today about the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand as recorded in Mattew 14:13-21.  I won't try to record the sermon here, but will focus in on a couple of the details that are particularly relevant to our situation...


The disciples had a tough job.  They had at least between 10 and 15 thousand people gathered to listen to Jesus, and the people were getting hungry...  Reminds me of everyday when my three kids start two or three times a day -- "What's for lunch" or "What's for dinner"...  But, this was a huge crowd.  They didn't have fast food or even the grocery stores like we have today with prepared foods and microwaves.  They had a real problem on their hands.


In fact, when the disciples thought the only solution was sending people home so they could feed themselves, Jesus told them to feed the people!  We may get all pious and think the disciples should have had faith or something, but how would we respond?  Feed 10 to 15 thousand people!  That would be like feeding 100 to 150 people all three meals for a full month!  This was no small task for these men!  The word impossible seems rather appropriate...


What I find interesting about how God chose to work this out is that Jesus required the disciples to take this small lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and actually go through the motions of starting to hand it out.  Now, we don't know just exactly how God caused it to multiply, but it would seem that they probably looked at this food that didn't even fill the first basket, and as they handed it to the first person, they thought that would be it.  Surely, the second person will be holding an empty basket and looking back up at the disciples...  But, Jesus made them go through that process -- no doubt thinking something about being doomed to failure.


Of course, they were wrong, but it sure looked like a silly plan...  But, somehow, when the next person in line reached into the basket, there was food.  And the third.  And so on...


I don't see God working this way with my checking account -- that would be nice!  But, He is requiring us to continue going about our daily life -- feeling like we are doomed to failure.  I am expecting Him to fulfill His promise to provide.  I can apply for jobs.  I can finish the construction of our home.  I can do what I can do.  I can even go to the government and get unemployment and maybe even food stamps.  But, I can't give myself an income.  God is going to have to provide that.


Lord Jesus, this is your Name that is on the line.  You have promised to care for us as a Father cares for His children.  As we take the steps that we can see, we continue to plead with you to bring us to a place of deliverance from the stress of having no idea how or where we're going to live.  We do love you and we have experienced your tender love for us in the past, and we so long to proclaim how you once again have delivered us!