Feeding an Army on Crumbs

There was a crowd of thousands gathered. It was getting late in the day. It was a remote place. The disciples are getting nervous. They tell Jesus:

"Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

But Jesus answered, "You give them something to eat."

Notice a couple of things:

1. The disciples became aware of the need and brought it up. Jesus wasn't the one who mentioned it. They did.

2. Jesus tells them to meet the need. Why did he do this?

Was it because he knew they could NOT meet it? ("That would take 8 months wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?") They sound stunned and frustrated.

or

Was it because he genuinely wanted them to participate in having the need met? ("How many loaves do you have? Go and see." Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass...They all ate and were satisfied...)

Do you ever feel like God says to you, "You give them something to eat"?
We have several options of how to respond.

We can throw up our hands and walk away, ignoring the command.

We can argue, becoming angry and frustrated.

We can obey, giving the best we have, trusting that somehow God will make up the difference.

Where does God ask you to "give them something to eat" today?

Grace & peace