Fish and Bread (by Dan Dooley)

John 6:
5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" (John 6:5-7)

This passage is an amazing lesson on learning on Who to depend. Jesus is the source of our provision and on our healing and He wants us to know that. There is a natural element to the provision and though it is not an impossibility, Philip's response to Jesus' question shows how difficult the problem can be. It was certainly possible for the disciples to by natural methods - the purchase of sufficient food - feed the crowd. It would just be a mind boggling task and actually beyond their means.

When we question if God is willing to supply our needs, and yes, that means provide for our physical healing, He wants us to know beyond any doubt that not only is He able and willing, He is eager to answer our prayers.

Philip could have answered two ways. "Lord, it's beyond me to know how to feed them all. It is beyond our financial means so if they are going to be fed, it's going to be up to You to provide."

Instead, he said, in essence, "Lord, it's beyond anything we can afford to do. I fear they are just going to have to go hungry."

When the doctor tells you that the disease you have is not curable, God is waiting to see how you are going to respond to the news. "Lord, it is beyond our human hope so it is up to You to provide the healing." We might say, God is chomping at the bit just waiting for us to say "Father, do this for me."

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