Matthew 14:15-16 ESV Now when it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
Have you ever prayed to God to solve a problem only to have Him tell you that you are solution He is going to provide?
I’m not sure what the disciple’s motivation for telling Jesus to send the crowd away. We could give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they were concerned about these people’s welfare. However, the disciples’ track record of selfishness and self-centeredness leads me to believe they were tired and hungry and just wanted to go get dinner themselves.
Now their solution was practical. The crowd needed to eat, the markets in the local villages presumably needed business, and the disciples could finally get that vacation time with Jesus that was the purpose for their being there. It was win-win-win proposition. God had other plans.
Jesus’ response must have taken the disciples aback. It wasn’t what they expected and certainly wasn’t practical. Thankfully, God is not always “practical” by human reasoning.
God delights in solving problems in ways that brings Him glory. He sometimes allows us to participate, but when He does, He often gives us tasks beyond what we are capable of. That is called a test. When we trust God, and the situation is resolved in a way that is obvious that God intervened, then our test turns into a testimony.
Whenever God makes you aware of a situation that needs prayer, never be surprised when God calls you to be a part of the answer.
Almighty God, I know that You do not need me. You are fully capable of handling anything without my help. Yet, like the loving Father that You are, You allow me to be a part of what You are doing. Thank You for working in me and through me.