God Is Not Surprised

‘Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.’ Mark 6:34.

It is important to note that it was not when the disciples encountered a problem that Jesus began to look for a solution. ‘But Jesus said, “You feed them’. Another version of this same scripture says Jesus said this to test them. It is important for us as Christians to know that it is not when we are faced with a challenge that God starts to think about a solution. In fact the challenges that you and I are facing today are not taking God unawares. God is not surprised. The truth is that God already has the solution even before we encounter the problem. Isn’t that comforting?

God likes to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Jesus’ disciples had a major challenge; they had just returned from an assignment and Jesus suggested that they all go and rest. So they left by boat. But the people wanted to see Jesus, so they ran on foot and cornered them. And Jesus after spending time with the people decided to feed them. God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. If Jesus did not let those people go hungry just because they had come to seek Him, what do you think He will do for you? The disciples saw feeding the five thousand people as a problem but Jesus saw it as a miracle waiting to happen. So Jesus wanting to teach the disciples a vital lesson, taught them how to prepare for a miracle.

At a meeting for people trusting God for the fruit of the womb, I saw a woman who already had children. Naturally I wanted to find out why she was at this meeting and her reply was that she wants more children. For us we might be quick to wonder ‘why won’t she allow people who don’t have any to at least collect their own first’. Right? But God does not think like that. God can give everybody triplets and there will still be more children. God is a God of abundance.

Over the next few days we will learn from the disciples experience how to see problems as miracles waiting to happen and how to prepare for our own miracles. We trust God that amazing miracles will burst-forth right from our own hands.

Prayer [Song]: ‘I have confidence in You, Jesus. I have confidence in You, Saviour. I have confidence in You, anytime, any-day. I have confidence in You, Jehovah moo’.