AUG 3

Mark 8:1-9
Memorise Mark 8:4
“From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?”

At times in Jesus’ ministry, great multitudes came to Him and stayed with Him for many days. In Mark 8:1-9 (and Matthew 15:30-38), the Bible tells us that a very great multitude of four thousand men, beside women and children, had come for healing and had been present with Jesus for three days. Jesus showed great compassion for the people and did not want to send them away hungry, knowing that some might faint on the long journey home. But when the disciples heard Jesus, they doubted Him and asked, “From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?” (Mark 8:4).

Why did the disciples ask such a question? They were wondering where they would be able to source for the great quantity of food required to feed everyone. They were out in the wilderness and the multitude was hungry! From what the disciples said, they believed Jesus was not just intending to feed the people by supplying a bit of food in order to sustain them for a brief period of time. The disciples were actually questioning how food would be supplied in such abundance so as to fill and fully satisfy the hungry multitude. The need of the situation was great and dire. How were they going to provide for the hungry multitude? Had the disciples forgotten that the One who was showing concern and care for the multitude, truly knows their needs? This was not the first time this had happened. Could the disciples not remember that Christ had previously fed a multitude of five thousand men, beside women and children? Did the disciples doubt that Christ could once again provide for this very great multitude?

Let us not have any doubt that our God knows and can provide for our every need. Christ had only seven loaves and a few small fishes, yet through the provision of God, the hungry multitude all did eat and were filled, and there was even an overabundance of food as seven baskets of fragments were collected. Christ had repeated a miracle and showed His power to provide for all our needs. So let us not doubt the provision of God, but remember all that He has already done and will continue to do in our lives.

Thought: Do I believe in the continual provision of God to provide for my every need?
Prayer: O Lord, help me have faith and not doubt Thy provision.