Introduction
Hello all. My name is Seth and this is your daily devotion. When we think about Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, what does His provision look like to us? We might think of abundance or something miraculous that suddenly appears when it’s needed.
We see Jesus as a miracle worker and we should, but how do we define a miracle? Let’s use an example. We believe that Jesus fed five thousand people when He was only given five loaves of bread and two fish. How did He do it?
I’m sure you’ve heard countless times that Jesus miraculously made more bread and fish appear. Why? Well, there’s obviously no way He could’ve fed five thousand people with what He had. The people needed more, so Jesus made more. Nice logic, but let’s see what the Bible says about it.
What Really Happened
Matthew 14:19-21 “Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”
Now, maybe I’m missing something, but where does it say that more bread and fish appeared? As it’s written, the implication is that Jesus fed those people with and only with five loaves and two fish. No other numbers are mentioned, apart from the amount of food they had left over. Why does it matter though?
Do We Need More?
Maybe when you look at your life and find yourself without, you’re thinking that you need more. If only you had more time, more money, more friends, more this, more that, you would be satisfied. Your prayers to God reflect this mindset. You’re always asking Him for more.
God’s question for you is this. What about what you have, what He’s already given you? Is His provision not sufficient? Is God not enough? Isn’t this the mindset Jesus’s disciples had? “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
Our confidence is that the Lord will provide, but I’m suggesting to you that the Lord has already provided. What we have is what we need and then some. Before Jesus told his followers to bring Him the food so He could bless it, He told them to go ahead and feed the people. He knew how much food they had and He knew already that it was enough.
He could’ve fed them all with a handful of breadcrumbs and still had leftovers. The amount isn’t the miracle. Jesus is. Simply being with Christ gave them all that they needed. The problem was they didn’t believe it.
Conclusion/Prayer
That’s the problem we’re facing today. What can we do with what God has already given us? You might be surprised to find out that even one blessing, one gift, one God-given ability can impact thousands. Let’s pray on this.
Jireh. Provider. You are already enough and more than enough. We must remember that we need not want for anything but You. Everything that You are is sufficient and we thank you for providing for us. Show us all the blessings you have already given. We ask this in your name. Amen.
That’s all I’ve got for you. Go in peace.