Bible Verse: When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. Mark 8:6-9 NIV
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:1–10; Mark 6:30-44; Psalm 23:1; Deuteronomy 2:7; Matthew 6:30-33; Philippians 4:10-20
Not every miracle Jesus performed was a healing miracle. People had other needs (just like today), and He would also meet those needs in miraculous ways.
At the beginning of Mark 8, there’s another gradual miracle, but this one is about provision, not healing. Jesus did a similar provisional miracle at another time in another place, with 5,000 people and very similar results (Mark 6:30-44).
In Mark 8, Jesus feeds a large crowd of 4,000 people with only a few loaves of bread and some small fish. Jesus took this small amount of food and blessed it (prayed and gave thanks for it). Then, the miracle happened. As the disciples gave out these meagre portions, the food miraculously multiplied. By the end of the meal, not only was the crowd fed and satisfied, but there were 7 baskets of leftovers!
This was a provisional miracle. It was also a gradual miracle because the abundance of food apparently did not appear all at once, instantaneously. The disciples obediently distributed what Jesus blessed. As the people ate, the food kept multiplying repeatedly and miraculously.
Maybe Jesus simply wanted the disciples to keep trusting that the provision would last. It would have been easier to see God provide a large amount of food all at once, but Jesus wanted them to trust Him one serving at a time.
Has God ever asked you to trust Him one step at a time? If so, you’re in good company.
Ask God to bless you, but don’t put a limit on how He may do so. If it’s a provisional miracle that comes by His hand, let Him choose whether it is instantaneous or gradual. His provision will be exactly what you need, at just the right time.
Christian men shoulder a unique responsibility to provide and lead well financially, and rightly so. But we must make sure we look to the greater Provider, God Himself, and invite Him into our financial picture. He supernaturally helps us do more than we could ever do alone.
Jesus still performs provisional miracles. If you find yourself with too little to meet your needs, that’s a strategic opportunity to turn to Jesus and let Him bless you.
Prayer: Father, help me see You as the miraculous Provider You are. Help me to believe that You will help me in my time of need. When I need provision from Your hand in the future, I will trust You one step at a time. Thank You for Your faithfulness in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection: Sometimes, we see miracles as only healing miracles. While these are important, we need to take the limits off God and see Him as capable of miraculously supplying our other needs as well. Do you see God this way, or do you need to expand your thinking and faith?
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