Belly Aches and Belly Laughs: when there’s no Tupperware

I think God sometimes likes to have fun with us.

Before the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:14-21), the disciples, Jesus’ followers, complained that they couldn’t possibly feed all the people.

Impossible, they said.

But Jesus performed a miracle, and everyone was fed.

I’ve lived in environments like this. In Nepal, there are few fridges and little means of keeping food fresh. So, everyone tries to eat up all the food that is provided, and none is wasted.

The disciples would have stuffed themselves so there would have been no food left to go off.

But, the miracle kept going. God kept providing food until no one could eat a bite more.

And …

… there were 12 baskets of leftovers. One for each of the ‘stuffed’ disciples to carry.

Maybe Jesus chuckled at the sight of them staggering to carry all that food in their bellies and baskets.

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Sometimes, I think God does bless us with more than we need. Perhaps he likes to have fun with us and amaze us with what he can do.

For me, he gives me more ideas than I can cope with! Maybe you’re the same, or you have extra income, too many friends, too much time on your hands, or additional space and a spare room. If you feel God has given you too much of something, enjoy it and ask him why. He’s the God of miracles and abundance, and perhaps he enjoys having fun with us.

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