Job Part 2 - Prayer and Questions

A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily prayers. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin.

Gospel Reading [ESV]

Matthew 14: 13-21
17They said to Him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18And He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Devotion: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Even as a child, when I heard this story it was very obvious to me that a miracle occurred here. Take another look though, the miracle itself is not described, only the before and after situation of the bread and fishes. Also, the reaction of the crowd is not described. There must have been ten thousand people if you figure in women and children. Yet Matthew leaves out any reference to what the people said or did—other than they ate their fill. Looking closer, this passage does actively describe the impact of the miracle on the disciples: they are frustrated that Jesus intends to feed all these folks with a handful of food, they somehow distribute food out to thousands of people, and the “left overs” fill the 12 disciples’ baskets. Put yourself in the disciples’ place, what is the message here? I think it says if you have doubts about God’s mercy and compassion for His people, remember this story. If your faith is being tested, remember this miracle then go to God in prayer.

Pray: Heavenly Father, give us this day our daily bread. Amen

Blessings,
Joe

Small group questions

1. Knowing yourself: How do you think the actual miracle (multiplication of the loaves and fishes) occurred? How would you react if you were one of the people being fed? How would you react if you were one of the servers (a disciple)?
2. Scripture: The disciples are fully engaged in this miracle yet in the next dozen verses the twelve doubt Jesus and fail the faith test.  What does this tell you? Why do you think Matthew left out the specifics in the miracle of the food multiplying?
3. Application:  It is apparent that God provides for believers and non-believers, why do Christians pray for God to provide? Why do you think this part of the Lord’s Prayer says “daily” bread? Finally, what is meant by “daily bread”?