Loaves And Fishes

When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.  

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.  

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.  

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.  

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.  

He said, Bring them hither to me.  

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.  

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.  

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.  

~ Matthew 14:13-21  

They were a new family in the Gospel.  They had been baptized, and were well on their way to learning about and keeping their new faith.   They had learned that God loved them, that God was real, and that All that God did in the scriptures for others, He would do for them as well.  Their faith was strong and growing! 

Being a poor family, they gathered as much funds as they could, to have a birthday celebration for two of their members.  They invited their friends and neighbours.  Everyone was so excited!  But, as the celebration grew close, they began to worry that there would not be enough food for all of their guests.  So they importuned the Lord.  They had learned of what Elijah had done in the name of the Lord, for the widow at Zarephath, how the flour and the oil would not run out, until God would once again send rain upon the earth.  They knew that God could, and would, do something for them.  And indeed, He did! 

The promise came.  Their food would not run out, and they would have plenty and to spare! 

People came.  Many people came!  And the food dishes refused to empty.  Family members could not stop giggling for joy, and expressing their amazement at the miracle that was happening right infront of their eyes.  The next morning, they still had food left over to send out to their neighbours! 

The gifts of God are for all those who follow Him, who keep His commandments, who strive with all their hearts. 

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