You Feed Them
You Feed Them
December 16, 2022
by Scott Nordstrom
Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked,
“Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” John 6:5-7
Philip didn’t answer the question posed to him by Jesus, or at the very least he answered the wrong question. We so often bypass considering the solution, especially when it might come to a supernatural move of God, to consider the costs.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s telling of this story,
Jesus simply states “You feed them.”
We are all living in a physical world, and the presence or provision of God is often overwhelmed by the physical or rational limitations of this world. I think there is a different way… A better way to move forward. A better way in which to view the future.
Rather than focusing on the costs let us consider how God might move in our midst. This does not mean that there won’t be tangible costs or real suffering that threatens our physical well-being, but rather our focus be on these things let us be on the lookout for what our King is inviting us into.
The funny thing in this story of feeding the 5,000, even if the money was available where would they have bought enough food for all of these people? (There were 5,000 men; most likely 20,000 with women and children).
Jesus wanted to highlight or over emphasize the difficulty of food provision for this many people. He wanted to illuminate what would be a major miracle of God. While situation was difficult, the disciples had what they needed in Jesus.
Like the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, he wants to use us to do more than what is physically possible. While we might by default consider our limitations, nothing is impossible with God.
They most likely would not have had access to the amount of food that was needed that day regardless of finances. God was going to do the impossible and He wanted to use his people to accomplish this, “You feed them”.
Global Orphan Relief (GO) has been serving orphaned children since 2005. We have accomplished this work to date through local partners in each country that provides oversight and distribution of care. As of October 2022 we served 6,559 children in Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Zambia within our Home-based Care, Nutrition, Scholarship, & Church Mobilization Initiatives.
Scott Nordstrom leads GO! today and was a co-founder when we launched in 2005. Scott has served with GO! for 17-years. Scott has been instrumental in deploying 166 volunteers on 27 teams to the mission field, and has personally served in DR Congo, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, South Sudan, and Zambia. Scott is a published author and speaks in the United States, as well as, internationally regarding child welfare and matters of faith, hope, and love.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Circle, Parker, CO 80134 or you may give also give electronically at Support the Global Orphan Relief Children or give on this website at the upper righthand corner under ‘Donate’.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE
Global Orphan Relief (GO!) is a Christian relief agency serving vulnerable children and is a recognized U.S. public charity, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). All donations to GO!, or any charitable contribution processed through Network For Good Donor Advised Fund, are tax deductible to the extent of the law. If you prefer, you may provide gifts of support by sending via mail to the address above.