What were they thinking?

 

In the book of Matthew, we have two remarkably similar miracles: the feeding of the 5,000 (Mt 14:13-21) and the feeding of the 4,000 (Mt 15:32-39).  But other than the fact that Jesus multiplies the loaves and the fishes and gives the crowd enough food, there are several differences. 

1. The 5,000 occurred near the town of Bethsaida; the 4,000 occurred along the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis.
2. Since Decapolis was a largely Gentile region of ten cities, it could be assumed that the 5,000 was for primarily Jews, the 4,000 had many more Gentiles.
3. The most obvious difference between the "feeding of the 5000" and the "feeding of the 4000" is the amount of food used to feed the crowd, with Jesus using five loaves and two fish to feed the 5000, while using seven loaves and a few small fish to feed the 4000; additionally, the number of baskets left over differs, with twelve baskets remaining after feeding the 5000 and seven baskets after feeding the 4000.

 In both cases Jesus demonstrates His compassion for the crowd…

Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.  (Mt 14:13-14)

 And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” (Mt 15:32)

Jesus cared deeply for the physical needs of the sick, and He also cared for their wellbeing.  He was not only the Good Physician, but also the Good Shepherd.  He had the forethought to consider they would have used up what food they brought.  Some of the weaker people in the crowd "might faint on the way."  What a wonderful Savior we have!

But the disciples did not seem to have the same compassion.  At the feeding of the 5,000 they suggested that Jesus send them away…

When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” (Mt 14:15-16)

It is important for us to understand what was in the minds of the disciples at this point. Jesus was quick to challenge their thinking and suggest they should take care of the problem.  Then Jesus did something they never expected.  He had food to eat that they did not know about.  In a miraculous demonstration of His supernatural resources, He multiplied the two fish and five loaves to feed 5,000 men, not to mention the women and children.  And all were satisfied. 

So, it is hard to understand why the disciples responded as they did.  They found themselves practically in an identical situation.  This time there were 4,000 men in the crowd, and they needed sustenance.  Let's look again at the interchange between Jesus and the disciples at the feeding of the 4,000… 

And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” (Mt 15:32-33)

So, I have a couple questions for the disciples at this point: 

1. Did you have amnesia?  Didn't you remember what Jesus had done several weeks earlier?
2. Why didn't you ask Him if He would like to do it again?  Were you too shy to ask?

It is hard to understand why the disciples acted as they did.  Surely, they knew HE COULD DO IT.  Maybe they doubted if HE WANTED TO DO IT. 

Or maybe they were just too self-reliant.  Did they think it was their job to manage these large events? Were they ashamed that they hadn't planned well enough?  They knew He wanted to feed the 5,000 Jews at Bethsaida, maybe they doubted he would feed the 4,000 Gentiles.  I honestly don't have the answer.  But I do know one thing- they didn't ask Him!

Jesus had repeated taught them about the Father- how good and gracious He was…

 “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? “Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Lk 11:11-13) 

And Jesus taught them to ask…

Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 

So, why didn’t they just ask?  Maybe it is the same reason we don’t.

How about you?

• How has God shown you His goodness? 

•  Would you say He is a generous God (why or why not?)

•  What is your first reaction to a problem or challenge? 

•  Do you tend to trust yourself (self-reliant) or to trust God (faith)? 

 

All passages in this post were taken from The New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995)