Abundance From a Meager Supply
Scripture Reading — Luke 9:10-17
"You give them something to eat."
Luke 9:13
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Picture Peter poking John and whispering, "Is Jesus serious?" Picture the other disciples, having heard Jesus command them to find food for more than 5,000 hungry people. At some point a few of them go looking. They find enough to make a snack for a small group-but not a meal for the huge crowd gathered around Jesus!
The disciples must have wondered still more when Jesus had them organize the crowd into groups of fifty-and even more as he stood and gave thanks for this pitiful portion of fish and bread.
Did they remember that God had fed the entire nation of Israel in the desert with manna from heaven (Exodus 16)?
Did they remember the widow in Elisha's day whose jug of oil did not run dry till she had filled the jars collected from all her neighbors (2 Kings 4:1-7)?
Did they imagine that Jesus could likewise produce abundance from a meager supply?
At this point they were just learning to believe that Jesus was the same God who brings abundance out of little, who can actually create something from nothing.
As the people ate and were satisfied and as the twelve baskets of extra food were filled, the disciples were brought a little farther along the path from wondering to believing. Where are you on that path?
<p>Dear God, I still have a long way to go before I believe as firmly as you call me to. Please keep teaching me. Help me to trust in you completely. In Jesus' name, Amen.</p>
About the author — Dave Den Haan
Dave Den Haan is an ordained minister who works for Thrive, the Christian Reformed Church in North America agency that equips and encourages congregations. His main focus is to serve churches experiencing conflict and challenge. Before working with Thrive, Dave served as a pastor to two congregations, one in Minnesota and one in Michigan. He and his wife, Connie, have three married children and two grandchildren.
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