Provision is Fundamental

Scripture: "When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." "Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven." So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?" Mark 8:19-21

Observation: Jesus tells the disciples to be wary of the 'yeast' of the Pharisees, and they think he is hinting that they forgot to bring enough bread for their trip. Jesus corrects them in this passage, effectively saying, "you have seen me twice multiply bread to serve thousands, why would you think I need more?" However, he doesn't re-teach them about the Pharisees, which appears to be the metaphorical point they missed, and instead indicates that they simply don't understand his true nature (and we will soon get to the point when Peter declares Jesus to be Messiah).

It therefore seems that what the disciples don't yet understand is that ... as Messiah, Jesus provides. He provides food for the hungry, healing for the sick, sight for the blind. He also provides hope for the those with faith, warning for those with false knowledge, teaching for those seeking understanding, wisdom for those seeking truth. So the disciples don't need to be worried about bread, for it - in fact, everything - will be provided.

Application: The Lord provides everything as it is needed, and this includes salvation through faith in Jesus. Our 'job' is so simple ... to believe he can and will provide, be that our bread for today, strength for the day, or mercy for eternal life.

And this is bedrock. The reason Jesus didn't repeat the lesson about the Pharisees is that he realized he needed to re-teach the basics instead, and thus discerning false understanding was still too advanced. The fundamental is faith, and that lesson had to be reinforced again. That same lesson has to be reinforced in me often. I know I am better at this than I was! However, there is room to improve. The more I simply trust that God will provide everything, in every situation, always, the better I will be able to serve him in other ways.

Prayer: Lord, you are my provider, Yahweh Yireh. You not only promise to provide, you have proven and delivered on your promise over and over and over again in my life. I trust in you for all things and in all ways, my Lord. May I lean into that trust more and more every day. Amen.