The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle outside of the resurrection of Jesus, to be recorded in all four gospels. Given the magnitude, it would have driven a comparison to the feeding of the Israelites in the desert with the miraculous manna.

The Withdrawal

The disciples were fresh from their latest “mission” to preach, heal and cast out demons, but weren’t ready to join their master with the miraculous feeding he had planned. There’s a subtle warning embedded in their behavior…they should have been ecstatic about the move of the Spirit among them on their recent travels, and anticipating what Jesus would add, especially after hearing him preach, but instead they were flat…regarding the crowds, it was simply, “send them away.”

Sabbatical

Their response reminds me of Elijah: “…and after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, ‘What are you doing here Elijah?’” (1st Kings 19:1-18)

Fresh on the heels of a God Show—fire from heaven and the end of a three-year drought, Elijah dropped his guard, and when threatened by the evil Queen Jezebel, fled to the wilderness, sat down, and asked God to die, worn out with all he had done; clearly a revival was needed…

But God sustained him, and drew him away to the Mountain on a six-week sabbatical of sorts, where he would find God, not in “earth, wind, and fire,” but in a still, small voice… The Voice would gently remind him that he was not alone (a remnant of the faithful remained in the land, 7,000 all told), and commissioned him, now fresh with revelation, to secure his legacy by anointing the King—and his prophetic successor. Elijah had despaired of life, but God would revive him, for bigger things had yet to be done…

Like Elijah—and the disciples–can we get too caught up in all we are doing “for” God, and lose sight of the One who has purposed these same works in us?

Are the “results” the goal—or the Glory of God? Will we accept, as Elijah did, God’s quiet reminder that it is really not about us in the first place, and submit to his grace-filled re-anointing?

A New Sheriff in Town

Thankfully, in the case of the disciples, Jesus wasn’t distracted by their lack of passion and used them to facilitate his own “God-show” to satisfy and energize the crowd…not since Moses, had such a feeding occurred! I can only imagine the delight and joy expressed by Jesus as he continued to multiply the loaves and fishes!

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