Fret or Faith

“Why are you talking about having no bread?  Don’t you remember?  Do you still not understand?’” Mark 7:17&21

A few days after Jesus fed the 5000, He fed the 4000.  The stories are similar—lots of people, few provisions, and a powerful miracle.  And just as before, the follow up to the feast was a boat ride back across the lake, but this time Jesus was with His disciples and was teaching them.  “‘Be careful,’ Jesus warned them.  ‘Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod’”(Mk 7:15).  His word picture was perfect—just like a little leaven works through a lump of dough to bring about big change, so the false teachings of the Jewish rulers could lead to large problems for God’s people.  But the disciples missed the point completely. The word “leaven” reminded them of loaves, and they began to fret about lunch.  “They discussed this with one another and said, ‘Is he saying this because we have no bread?’  They had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat”(Mk 7:16,14).

Aware of their angst, Jesus rolled His eyes, shook His head, and said, “Seriously??”  Well, not exactly, but pretty much.  He questioned why there were worrying about the lack of food when they had just seen Him multiply the little into a lot.  “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ ‘Twelve,’ they replied.  ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ They answered, ‘Seven.’  He said to them, ‘Then why are you talking about having no bread?  Don’t you remember?  Do you still not understand?’”(Mk 7:17-21).

“Come on, guys!  Don’t you get it?  I’m going to provide for your bodies, and I want to help your hearts. Have you forgotten how I fed thousands? If you do remember, then why are fretting about food for a few?  Since I provided for the big crowd, doesn’t it make sense that I will take care of the small crew as well?”  

It does, but when faced with a pressing need, we sometimes forget God’s faithfulness in the past and focus only on our lack in the present.  We start to worry, fret, and wonder about how ends will meet, how we will have strength, or how we will ever make it through. It’s in the times that we catch ourselves filled with concern about what we don’t have that we should rewind our minds and remember how God has supplied (with surplus) in days gone by.  We should recall how He multiplied the little into a lot, and we should find comfort in His constant, continual, and ever-increasing care.

Don’t you get it?  God’s got this.  Don’t fret.  Have faith. And watch Him work.