Tabgha (circled, as Seen from the Church of the Beatitudes) is the traditional location of the feeding of the 5000
Yeshua said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. - John 6:10
As followers of Yeshua we all say our Source and Provider is the God of Israel.
But, really?
When we get a headache, do we first reach for an aspirin, or other medicine?
When we need something, do we drive to the store and get it (or order it up for delivery on our phone) ?
When we need water, do we just open the fawcet?
When politics are not going our way to we put tons of energy into organizing and voting?
Our Father of Heaven has provided many avenues of answers to our needs and desires, but do we truly see HIM as The Practical Solution to EVERY need and desire?
Some have said that the very Land of Israel is the "Fifth Gospel" by which they mean that the land, itself, testifies to the truth of Scripture. Surely most have heard it explained that going "up to Jerusalem" does not mean it is north of the everything else, rather - no matter from which direction you approach Jerusalem you must go UPHILL to get to The Holy City - thus... "up" to Jerusalem.
Likewise - the feeding of the 5000 is thought to have taken place in a place with 7 Springs, just off the coast of the Sea of Galilee (see circle in picture above). Matthew mentions they sat on grass and John says there was "much" grass ... NOT a common occurance in Israel !!!
You can see see (in the circle) this bit of land is still LUSH!!! The trees and crops still readily grow in this area today.
Also, if you don't know, God blessed the Jewish people with a land that because of the weather - it is able to produce various crops all year long!!! In Israel, Strawberries are coming in from farms RIGHT NOW in VAST quantities !!! In DECEMBER !!! (okay, now January).
So what does all this have to do with war?
In John 6:6, we are told Yeshua already knew what He had in mind to do, but He wanted to test His disciples ... Were they learning what He was teaching? Would they turn to the trust they were gaining in Yeshua for the answers they need ... or would their thoughts and decisions lead them elsewhere?
Jesus asked Philip, "What grocery store should we go to and buy food to feed all these people?"
Philip exlaimed in despair, "The wages from 200 days of work would only buy enough for each to have only a tiny morsel!"
Just previously, Yeshua had sent out the disciples to do the work of expanding His Kingdom on earth. Here at the feeding of the 5000 the disciples had just returned from seeing the power and authority of Jesus - through them - to heal the sick and work miracles. Now, in their first situation with Jesus where practical needs needed to be met ... THEY HAD NO ANSWER FOR THE SITUATION AT HAND.
Have you and I forgetten the times we have seen Yeshua move in power?
So... here is the situation -
Five thousand men (plus woman and children) needed to be fed.
The land, which was lush and produced fruitful harvests - (read - "the world") - was not the answer.
Money couldn't provide the answer.
What was (AND IS) The Answer?
They found a child who was willing to put all he had into the hands of Yeshua, and Yeshua brought about the answer.
To fight a war - you need supplies! You need weapons. You need wisdom. You need intel on what the enemy is up to. You need equipemnt and fuel. You need people. You need unity among your people. You need your people to be trained. You need food and water.
Where are we to find all of this? How can we obtain all this?
By doing as that child did - put everything that we have into Yeshua's hands... and ask Him to do whatever it is that needs doing.
CONSIDER - IN HIS LOVE AND WISDOM - HE ALREADY HAS THE ARRANGED FOR THE ANSWER -
"And it shall come to pass that BEFORE they call, I will answer them... - Isaiah 65:24."
ASK, IN JESUS' NAME, OF OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER, AND TRUST HIM -
"Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him... - Matthew 6:8"
Are there ways you have been trusting yourself, the world or money to supply your needs? Confess and repent that you have put other gods before Yehovah.
Are you not seeing answers? One hero of the faith said this - "Attempt great things for God, THEN expect great things FROM God." Are you desiring to be an instrumental part in Yeshua's war to defeat evil? Are you attempting to take back ground from the world, and from the enemy of our soul? If not, then what need do you really have of the things of God?
But if your desire is for EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US to more establish HIS Kingdom IN you and THROUGH you ... have NO doubt - Yeshua stands ready to equip you, supply you ... if you are willing to be engaged in this war.
PRAY - FATHER IN HEAVEN, IN 2024 I WANT TO BE AN INSTRUMENT FOR YOU TO MORE ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF YOUR SON YESHUA HERE ON EARTH. I WANT TO BE A MORE EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT IN YOUR WAR AGAINST DARKNESS THAN I EVER HAVE BEFORE. TO DO THIS I NEED TO LOOK TO YOU FOR ALL MY PROVISION - SPIRIT AND SOUL AND MIND AND BODY ... BUT THERE ARE TIMES I DON'T CONSIDER YOU FIRST AS "THE ANSWER" ... AND THERE ARE TIMES I STRUGGLE TO BELIEVE YOU WILL PROVIDE.
BUT RIGHT NOW I AFFIRM MY TRUST IN YOU - THAT YOU ARE GOOD, THAT YOUR MERCY ENDURES FOREVER, THAT YOU HAVE PROVEN YOUR LOVE BY SENDING YOUR ONLY SON. THIS TRUST, THIS FAITH IS A GIFT FROM YOU SO NO PERSON CAN BOAST, SO I ASK YOU TO WORK IN ME SO I AM ABLE TO TRUST YOU MORE.
AND I WANT TO USE THIS FAITH IN YOU TO SEE YOUR KINGDOM MORE ESTABLISHED IN MY LIFE AND IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE YOU BRING MY WAY.
PLEASE LET ME EXPERIENCE YOU AS MY AMAZING SUPPLY LINE IN THIS WAR AGAINST DARKNESS.
PLEASE CAUSE YESHUA TO BE SEEN IN HIS GLORY THROUGH WHAT YOU DO IN MY LIFE IN 2024.
IT IS IN YESHUA'S NAME I ASK YOU THIS. AMEN!