Fishes and Loaves

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.  Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.
Matthew 15:32-38

Thousands of people.
Seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. 
Seven baskets leftover. 
More than enough.

Have you ever thought about the faith and trust of those with the bread and fish? When asked to part with the little food they had brought for their family, what do you think went through their head? Do you think there was pause and hesitation? Do you think they were reluctant? Do you think they worried they didn’t have enough to give to make a difference? Or do you think that what they had seen and heard from Jesus was enough to believe that He would do something great with what little they had to offer?
 
Often, there are times that we can look at the very little we have to give Jesus and decide that it’s not enough for Jesus to use; we’re not enough for Jesus to use. Or the circumstance is just too big. And instead of trusting in the Jesus that multiples seven loaves of bread and a few small fish into more than enough, we doubt. We doubt that He could ever use what we have to offer. We doubt that we even have anything worth using. We doubt that he can really turn fishes and loaves into abundance. We know our sin, our shortcomings, our unworthiness. And so, we doubt that He can use our fishes and loaves because it simply doesn’t seem like enough to offer.

We’ll never know on this side of heaven what went through the minds of the crowd that day. Maybe they felt as though they didn’t have enough to give. Maybe they doubted too. But they trusted Jesus anyway. They trusted that the Jesus they saw work miracle after miracle would take what little they had and do more with it than they could ever understand. They had faith. They trusted. And they watched Jesus take their yes and multiply it in ways they never thought possible.
 
What would it look like for us to trust Jesus with the little we have to offer? To fully believe that He could do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20) To believe that despite our flaws, despite our lack, despite our sin that He can take what we offer and multiply for His glory?
What could Jesus do with our fishes and loaves?

And he said, “Oh, my child let go. I know you’re uneasy, but I’m in control. I don’t need that much for Me to show. I’ll make the most of your fishes and loaves.”
Josiah Queen, Fishes and Loaves