Test

“Lifting up His eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward Him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’  He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.”  John 6:5-6

Imagine this scene: a crowd of not just a couple of hundred, but 5,000 men plus women and children approach Jesus and His disciples. Based on the size of families during this time period, historians say it could have been a total of 25,000 people in all. And these were not just any people – they were hungry people. It is almost comical how Jesus addresses the situation. He turns to Philip and asks, “Where are we going to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”

The Son of God who is the Word of God in flesh asks where to buy food! In Exodus, God rained manna from the sky for the Israelites to eat. He summoned a wind to blow thousands of quail so they would have meat and even gave them water from a rock. And yet here, He questions His followers about how to feed the crowd. Verse six explains why He did so…in order to test them. What kind of test was this? It was a test of their faith.  He could have just said, “Are you going to trust me or not?”

While the problem of a hungry crowd of thousands may have seemed like the problem they were facing, there was a much deeper and more troubling problem that only Jesus saw. The disciples saw a hungry mob. Jesus saw twelve doubting hearts. Did Jesus need them to buy food? Of course, He didn’t. Everything belongs to Him. He didn’t need their help, but He did want their hearts.

Anytime Jesus asks us for something, it is always a test of our faith. There is always a lesson intended to teach us more about His faithfulness, and to show us our own unbelief. Was it a natural response to believe that Jesus could feed those thousands of people? No. But as believers we don’t operate from the natural mind, but from the supernatural power of the Spirit.

When faced with seemingly impossible odds, is your response one of man’s logic or faith? Remember, with God all things are possible, if only we will believe.

Father, increase my faith today. Help me to give whatever You ask of me. And help me to trust you even when the path forward seems impossible to walk down. In Jesus’ name, amen.