Wonder Bread

Posted by Dion Todd July 29th, 2024 1,490 Views 30 Comments

In Matthew 14:16-21 Jesus fed 5,000 men plus all the women and children who were there with only five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples picked up twelve baskets of scraps afterward.

In Matthew 15:33-38 Jesus fed 4,000 men plus women and children with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish, and the disciples gathered up seven baskets of scraps afterward.

So, five loaves fed 5,000, but seven loaves only fed 4,000, and they had fewer leftovers. Naturally, you would think the more provisions they had on hand, the more people would be fed. Yet here, the less the disciples had to work with, the greater the miracle. Five loaves fed more than seven. So, how many people could God feed with 0?

In Exodus 16:13-21, manna, bread from heaven, appeared around the Israelite camp six days a week for forty years, but never on the Sabbath day. It was enough to feed two million people, and it was there every morning.

Food multiplication was an amazing, astounding, incredible, awesome display of God taking care of His people's practical needs. It gives this Scripture meaning:

(Matthew 6:31–33 NKJV) "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The disciples were with Jesus, passing out the food and gathering baskets full of scraps. They had witnessed the Lord's provision firsthand and watched Jesus feed over 9,000 people with twelve loaves of bread, which they helped carry. But alas, faith dies when the slightest need appears. Because we know God is mighty, and He created the heavens and the Earth, and He can move mountains, but we don't believe that He will do it for us today.

Immediately after Jesus fed the 4,000, the disciples forgot to bring bread, and no one wanted to tell Jesus about it.

(Matthew 16:5–7 NKJV) Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread."

Their thoughts turned negative immediately, and they began to look at their failure for not bringing enough bread. They thought Jesus was scolding them.

(Matthew 16:8–12 NKJV) But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

How easy it is to misunderstand Scripture! When Jesus said one thing, they thought He meant something else entirely. They heard, "A new commandment I give to you..." I am so glad Jesus addressed that and the Apostles didn't start teaching, "Beware of bread yeast," for I like baking homemade bread every Saturday.

To paraphrase it, Jesus said, "Knuckleheads, I already know you forgot to bring bread. A bread shortage is not what I am concerned about. It is the false teachings of the Sadducees and Pharisees I want you to beware of."

It is offensive when we forget the mighty works of God and what He has done. They used to write songs about them and teach them to their children (Deuteronomy 31:22 ).

(Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV) "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children"

(Judges 8:33–34 ESV) As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side

(Psalm 78:10–14 ESV) They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light.

(Psalm 78:15–19 ESV) He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

Yes. Yes, He can...God has no shortage of bread. May we never forget what the Lord has already done, even while we pray for Him to do something new for us today. We need to shake off the "What have You done for me lately?" attitude and be thankful for what He has done.

Wine gets better with age, but whining gets old really fast.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for all that You have done for me. I will never forget it. Please bring Your mighty works to my remembrance when I need them most. I love and appreciate You, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!