THE FATHER KNOWS OUR NEED
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
6 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
Twelve,” they replied.
20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” Mark 8:14-21
There is something significant hidden in this incident that the Holy Spirit wants us to understand. In Matthew 6:8, Jesus taught His disciples that prayer is not about needs. So, what do we do when a need arises? Jesus said, “Seek God’s kingdom first and all these things will be added.” What is the essence of God’s kingdom? Generosity – taking care of the needs of others; the oppressed, the poor, the widow, the orphan and the alien. Create a current and God will always reciprocate by taking care of our needs. He knows without our having to ask.
In this situation (Mark 8:16-21), it was obvious to Jesus that His disciples had not understood the significance of His generosity to the hungry crowds. The Father knew their natural, physical need. He was simply the channel through which God supernaturally satisfied their hunger. He used what was available and God made it enough for everyone.
Now Jesus and the disciples were in a situation where the Father was aware of their need. The lesson they had failed to grasp was that the Father would not withhold from them because of their carelessness. He was a Father, a caring parent who would look after them no matter what their circumstances.
This does not give us licence to be careless and irresponsible, but it does take into account our frail and imperfect humanity. When God says He knows our need before we ask Him, he really means it. Knowing means more than merely being aware of our need. It also implies that He is willing and able to meet that need because He is our Father.
What security that provides to know that we need never be preoccupied with all the things that pagans run after. We are freed to focus on the things our Father is concerned about – doing whatever we can to make “up there” come “down here”; being gracious and compassionate to the ones around us who don’t know Him.