If you have ever felt like a wave of impossibilities threatened to overtake you, this story is for you in Matthew 15:32-39. This is the story of when Jesus fed the 4,000 with only 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. Interesting that the number 7, the number of completion, of perfection, in the Bible is the number of loaves of bread the disciples had on hand. This alongside a few small fish. Also interesting that the word “small” is used to describe the fish the disciples had. Jesus Himself is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), our complete and perfect sustenance. The “small” in our own hand, the “small” we have to offer Jesus becomes more than enough when we are walking along with Him! Are you willing to release into His hand your “too small”, your “not enough” so that He can take you beyond yourself? He would show you that it is in your weakness you will most rely on Him, finding His strength to be more than enough to compensate for your lack (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)!
After reading this short passage in Matthew, where are Jesus and His disciples? Not among their people but among predominantly Gentiles! This certainly is not a place, nor a people anyone would expect God’s supernatural blessing to reign down upon. Strike one.
Next question; Who prayed for this miracle to occur? Who even thought it possible? The disciples had recently witnessed Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish (less provision for an even greater crowd) and yet they doubted (verse 33)! No one brought the need of these people to Jesus. Certainly the wrong time with no apparent faith around. Strike two.
Strike three is that the circumstances were all wrong! Not only the wrong people at the wrong time in the wrong place but there were inadequate provisions, to say the least. Three stikes we’re out, we should all just go back and sulk in the dugout, right? WRONG!! It may have been all wrong but Jesus is in the business of making all wrongs, right, dear one!
What we see as the wrong place, Jesus saw as the perfect place to break into history His ministry to ALL people! What we see as the wrong time, Jesus saw as the perfect time to reveal that His actions are not dependent on ours. Jesus moved without any human prompting, praying or even a meager human offering of faith. (Actually He was faced with flat out doubt and denial and distaste for the whole remote area!) And yet… Jesus says in Matthew 15:32 (NIV) “I have compassion for these people;… And Jesus doesn’t stop at the thought but follows through with action!
Even in the imperfect circumstances of a severe lack of provision (which was only the cherry on top of multiple obstacles that made all seem wrong for a miracle that day) Jesus saw opportunity, and stepped in to do what only He could do; because He is love.
That day 4,000 men plus women and children were fed and had 7 baskets full of leftovers! What in your life seems all wrong for a miracle? Wrong time, wrong place, wrong people, wrong circumstance… maybe all these obstacles add up to one big opportunity for Jesus to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20)! Dear one, Jesus sees you and He sees you through eyes of loving compassion. Don’t lose hope, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23)!
Redeeming Grace 99|1 Ministries 