God knows just what He will do

Christ’s feeding of the multitude with five loaves and two fish is the one miracle that is recorded in all four gospels.

In this amazing story we find many lessons, and some are unique to a particular gospel account.

In John’s account he writes, “Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’” (John 6:5).

Then, only in John’s gospel do we find this parenthetical statement, “But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” (John 6:6)

What it says of Jesus, that He knew what He would do, is a reference to the assuring reality that God knows what He will do.

With God, there are no surprises. The Lord is never caught by surprise. He devised the plan of salvation “before the world began.” (2 Timothy 1:9)

He went ahead of the wandering Israelites to find places for them to pitch their tents in the empty wilderness and to keep them safe (Deuteronomy 1:33).

The Creator of heaven and earth is always ready. And when we forget that we suffer undue anxiety, because God promises the faithful “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

Jesus knew what He would do in the case of the famished five thousand.

Jesus taught his disciples to trust the heavenly Father because He knows our needs before we ask. He said,

“For your Father knows the things you need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8).

This quality of God is a wide umbrella that protects us from the downpour of doubt.

The gospel is not only word but power — power that provides strength, transforms lives and gives us hope. “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance…” (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Yes, because God knows what He will do!

The enemy of souls works because he knows his time is short and the Lord can’t afford to be unprepared or ill prepared. He is always ready!

Christians serve a prepared God who has promised to provide our needs as we seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33).

More than anything else, God has made a way for us to exercise our faith and trust Him regardless of the difficulties, upsets and losses of life, because God knows what He will do!

Alvaro Sauza is pastor of the Sandpoint Seventh-day Adventist Church.