When we face a lack of something, we tend to look inward, asking what “we” can do with our own strength and the provisions we have. We tend to take our eyes off Jesus and soon plummet into a life of chaos filled with emergencies. Soon there is never enough of anything, and it is usually because we have lost our focus. Let’s take a look at the disciples of Jesus:

(Mark 8:13-18 NKJV) And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.” But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?”

The disciples had forgotten to bring enough bread for their trip, and they only had one loaf on the boat with them. When Jesus told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, they immediately began to focus on their physical needs and the lack of supplies, which was their own fault. Because of their oversight in not bringing bread for the trip, they probably looked down at their feet and assumed that Jesus was scolding them.

Jesus was not talking about physical bread. The leaven mentioned here wasn’t merely yeast, but a pinch of dough left over from the previous batch, as in sourdough bread. This was how bread was commonly leavened in the ancient world, and a little pinch of dough from the old lump could make a whole new lump rise and “puff up.” The work of leaven was considered an illustration of the work of sin and pride. The point was that a little can corrupt a large amount, and that we should be wary of mixing “the old ways” with the new.

Jesus essentially said, “Beware of the evil way the Pharisees and Herod think of the Kingdom of God, for soon I will reveal it to you.” Both Herod and the Pharisees idealized the Kingdom as domineering power and authority. Herod saw it primarily as political power and authority, while the Pharisees saw it as spiritual power and authority. Yet they still viewed the Kingdom in this high-minded way, with themselves at the top. Jesus revealed that the greatest in the Kingdom of God would be as humble as a little child (Matthew 18:4), not the domineering political power most expected to come.

In the boat, Jesus didn’t blame the disciples for what they lacked in bread — He blamed them for what they lacked in faith. It is always that way. God speaks to us, and we immediately begin to see ourselves as failures: “We have let Him down,” or “We don’t have enough for that.” Then He says, “Why don’t you understand that it is not about what you have? Don’t you remember what I have already done for you in the past?”

When God calls us to do something, we often look at what we have on hand and say, “We don’t have enough,” but that is completely irrelevant to His plan succeeding. Jesus had already taken five loaves of bread and fed five thousand, and there were twelve baskets of broken pieces left over. Another time, He had taken seven loaves of bread and fed four thousand, and there were seven baskets of broken pieces left over. One loaf was enough. There was no shortage of bread in that boat.

The disciples were blinded by an immediate need and had forgotten that as they put God’s Kingdom first, their needs would be met, just as the thousands were fed. Jesus said this in Luke:

(Luke 12:29-31 NKJV) “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”

When they began to look at themselves and their failures, Jesus was grieved. He told them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember?”

After all this time with Jesus, the disciples still could not see past their immediate physical needs. Their lack blinded them to the truth; they were spiritually deaf, hardened, and insensitive to the Spirit of God — like us. When they reached land, the next miracle Jesus performed was opening the eyes of a blind man (Mark 8:22).

Do not look at your immediate needs in fear, and do not dwell on your past failures. Focus on the Kingdom of God, on knowing God, and then the things that you need will be added unto you. As you trust God and seek Him, He will take care of you. God’s provision comes along with His vision.

David wrote: (Psalm 37:4 NKJV) “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” When you chase Him, His blessings will chase you. He will make a way where there is no way, and He will make the impossible become a part of your testimony.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to see the provisions that You have for me. Help me hear what the Spirit says to the church. I want to be a part of what You are doing today. Please speak to me, and through me. Thank You for providing for me. I choose to trust You today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!