ODJ: divine-human partnership
May 29, 2011
“How much bread do you have?” He asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish” (v.38).
READ: Mark 6:30-44
A farmer’s crop is a provision from God (Deut. 16:15), yet the farmer is required to harvest it. Each child born is a gift from God (Psalm 127:3), yet no pregnancy takes place without a man and woman’s union. Israel’s wars were won by God (Deut. 20:4; Joshua 10:42), but Israel was still called to fight. In work, procreation, and the battles of life, God works with us in divine-human partnership. The same is true of the miraculous.
When Jesus was surrounded by an enormous crowd at Bethsaida, a practical matter arose about catering. The tired disciples who were originally brought there for some R&R (v.31) panicked when Jesus told them to feed the masses (v.37). They had just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, but Jesus miraculously fed the stadium-sized crowd with the meager morsels.
Now, notice a few things about the story:
Who was to feed the crowd? The disciples. Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll feed them,” but “You feed them” (v.37). Whose food was used? Whatever the disciples could scrounge up. Jesus didn’t make fish and bread fall from the sky; He used what they had (v.38).
Who arranged the people? Distributed the food? Cleaned up afterwards? The disciples (vv.39,41,43). But who did the miracle? Jesus. He directed the whole event (v.41).
God can harvest a field or win a battle without human involvement. He once arranged a virgin birth! But, in general, He performs miracles as humans act. Paul received his sight when Ananias prayed (Acts 9:17-18). A crowd was fed when the disciples distributed the bread.
Expect God’s blessings to flow through human hands, and offer Him the little you have for His miraculous use. —Sheridan Voysey
Have you been hoping for a miracle or provision from God without human involvement? How have you been guilty of viewing your gifts, talents, and resources as too small for God to use?
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