Bread, Fish, and Human Agency

It stands as one of the most well-known miracles of Jesus, a testament to His power which has been recorded in all four accounts of the gospel. Using only five loaves of bread and two fish, our Lord provided food for a crowd of five thousand men, plus women and children. We marvel at the miracle performed for many reasons. First, we see how the multitude following Jesus had already seen Him heal the sick (Matt 14:14). Second, the fact that all ate and were filled (Luke 9:17) captures our attention. Third, we also note that there were twelve baskets of food left over (Mark 6:43). And finally, the crowd’s reaction also speaks to the power of the miracle. Those who witnessed the sign said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14). 

For all the times we have heard the feeding of the five thousand, did you ever stop to consider what Jesus used to begin this work? He started with bread and fish. This is worth noting because these beginning ingredients are totally unnecessary. If He chose to, our Lord could have provided the crowd’s meal out of thin air. In the record of Biblical history, God has rained down food from the sky (Exo 16:4) and called water out of rocks (Exo 17:6). I don’t know of any reason to say the five thousand could not have been fed in the same way. However, there may be an important lesson in seeing that Jesus uses the gifts which men bring to Him. He chose to use the five loaves of bread and two fish. 

We sometimes refer to the principle of “human agency”. God accomplishes above and beyond what we can imagine all by Himself. He gives to all life, breath, and all things. It is not as though he needs our help to do great things (Acts 17:24-25). Yet our God chooses to use humanity. It is God’s Will that we would be His agents and ambassadors in the world (2 Cor 5:20). This is seen in helping to provide for some of the physical needs of others, but also and more powerfully in the spread of the gospel message. Read Acts 8-10 and notice God’s design is for men, not angels, to teach the truth of salvation. 

We are the bread and the fish. Are we up to the task which God has for us, the work of the church? Are we enough? Remember, God is able to do well beyond what we ask or think by the power which He works in us (Eph 3:20-21). If we willingly give of ourselves, no matter how poor and lowly our abilities and talents, God will bless and multiply what we bring to Him. May we understand human agency and live ready to serve.