By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
We live in a state, Idaho, where there are a lot of preppers. Some people are prepared for the next disaster whether it be a flood, power outage, water supply contamination, or an attack from invaders. Guns, ammo, extra water and food, generators, etc. are purchased and stored. I work in the risk management field and so I am formally trained to think about what can go wrong and reverse-engineer solutions for these problems before they happen.
I think the disciples, at least some of them, were planners too. They were trying to plan ahead so they didn’t have “hangry” people on their hands. I can imagine them presenting this problem and potential solution with some pride-of-thought-ownership here. Maybe they figured this one out before Jesus did?
But they found out he had a different plan. He planned to use one boy's lunch to feed them. How crazy is that? It is also very awesome!
Sometimes in life I see problems for myself or others and forget that I serve a very BIG God. He loves me and will provide! “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Lord, you made a point to your disciples here that you are Lord over all of the problems we see in the world today. And you can solve them in unique and incredible ways. We must serve you well and plan ahead. We must also allow you to be amazing in your provision and deliverance in our midst. You are an amazing God!