Luke 9:12

New International Version (NIV)

Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.

For Meditation

“Send the crowd away,” they said. But why should they be sent away from the presence of the Master?

The problem we have is that we only see the problem, when the solution is right before us in Jesus, the Master we’re walking with. When we turn to Him in prayer, we complain and instruct, instead of stating the need and asking for mercy and grace to help us.

The Israelites did the same throughout their forty-year wilderness sojourn with the Lord. After all the great miracles in Egypt that delivered them from slavery, and the Red Sea Crossing that separated them from their enemies for good, the people couldn’t see the unlimited possibilities in the Savior who led and protected them as the pillar of fire and of cloud, before and behind them. They complained about the bitter water at Marah (Ex. 15:22-24) and for food in the Desert of Sin (16:1-2). For forty years, they only saw problems instead of the person and glory of God with them.

Fast forward to Israel with Jesus! Their Messiah had come, but they refused to acknowledge Him. He moved with His apostles, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Yet, the people failed to see. Even the apostles themselves failed to comprehend His ability to do all things. Otherwise, how could they have complained about food for the crowd in that remote place with Jesus (Lk. 9:12)?

The absurdity of the Apostles’ complaint is that they had been with Jesus and seen all the miracles He had performed. More than that; they had exercised His power and authority over demons, diseases, and sicknesses in their evangelistic campaign (1-2).

1. So how could they worry about food for the crowd?
2. Why didn’t they realize the ability of Jesus to feed them?
3. Why did they ask Jesus to send them away?
4. How dare they tell Jesus what to do?
5. Why didn’t they have the sense to just bring the situation to Him and leave it to His discretion?

But you see; that is how we are with Jesus. After our mighty deliverance, His mercy and grace upon us, and the miracle of our everyday lives, we still don’t get it. We still doubt His ability to do the impossible in our lives. We complain and instruct Him in our prayers. Our faith is fickle and unsteady as “a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (Ja. 1:6-8).

I pray we stop complaining in your prayers and just state the needs to your sovereign Master. With Him and in Him, nothing is impossible!

So: May God confirm His word by meeting “all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19)!

Shalom.