When Jesus was preparing to miraculously feed the 5,000, He turned to Phillip and asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” The verse continued, “He was testing Phillip, for he already knew what he was going to do.” Phillip responded, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”
The Lord’s test was specific for Phillip. There was something the Lord wanted Phillip to learn. The test was about getting Phillip healed from limiting God’s miraculous provision based on what he possessed to meet an impossible need.
When we need a miracle, we can become overly focused on our lack after reviewing the impossibility of our ability to meet our needs. When we look around and review the scope of what is required to meet that need, we can lose hope. What we fail to realize in the faithless survey of our situation is the Lord is using our perceived lack to probe the depth of our trust in Him. The Lord does not use the test associated with meeting our needs to determine our worthiness to receive a miracle. Like it was for Phillip the Lord “already knew what he was going to do.” The test expands our faith and deepens our trust in God.
On the day the 5,000 were fed, the Lord demonstrated His ability to turn the equivalent of a boy’s lunch, into a feast for thousands of people. In our day, when the Lord releases a miracle of provision we thought impossible to imagine, it will become a living testimony of God’s provision not only for our lives but for all those in the crowd of our life who witnessed our miracle. It will give them hope in their time of need when their faith and trust in God are similarly tested.
True words Garris. Those will be moments worthry of all praise and honor to our heavenly Father and to Jesus.
Amen
I love this passage in scripture and your comments about God’s miraculous plans. When faced with impossible situations the Lord has often said to me, “Just give me something to work with.” It might involve a prayer, an action or money. Just like the boy’s lunch, it seems like such a small drop in a very large bucket. That’s when we see God’s miracles and He receives all the glory.
So Good and so Timely
Thank You 😊
it is interesting to note that the passage excludes the feed of women and children, yet it was a lads lunch that supplied the means for the miracle. I love how God does things ! what seems left out if it be in His hands always leads to exceedingly more.
Waiting and trusting for the miracle! He is good and I am thankful I can trust Him no matter how long it takes or what it looks like. I continue to give my little and I keep receiving His ‘MUCH MORE’, His basket fulls. May I never lose sight of the Master of miracles in my life.
Excellent! God is always there to teach and stretch our faith in Him!