I come from a small country in the Middle East where hospitality is taken to a whole new level. Especially when it comes to the older generations, Middle Eastern people have had a reputation for being exceptionally hospitable and generous. People would not step into a Middle Eastern house and leave without being fed. More than once possibly. You pass by a friend’s house, let’s say to drop off something or say hello, and it turns into a 5-course meal. No kidding. It starts with, “Oh, come on. You can’t just leave. You have to have coffee.” Then, “You can’t leave now, stay for dinner, it’s almost done!” (Though it’s no where near done). After dinner, comes dessert of course. And we wrap it up with “Do you prefer coffee or tea?” Cause you’re gonna need something to help you digest all that food! Then my least favorite part, “Why don’t you stay over? It’s too late to drive now!” You end up having a slumber party that was not even anticipated. Now with that in mind, here’s a question for you! What would happen if a Middle Eastern man were to show hospitality, not to one or two, but to thousands of people at once? What would that hospitality look like?
Jesus was Middle Eastern as well! One day, 4000 men (plus their wives and children) spent 3 days with Jesus on a mountain, listening to Him preach. He healed their sick, He made the mute speak, the paralyzed was able to walk again. It must’ve been the most thrilling party to be in. People witnessed miracles left and right and listened to Jesus Himself teach. After 3 days had gone by, Jesus didn’t want to let them go without feeding them first!
“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way” Mat. 14:32.
The disciples understood this whole hospitality thing. “Don’t let the guests leave hungry” kind of culture, but they were thinking practically. So they asked Him where would we buy food for all of these people?
If you read this passage, you’ll see that this is where Jesus asked them to bring whatever they had. They only had seven loaves and a few fish. So Jesus, praying over that food, offered to the disciples and they distributed the food among those thousands of people and everyone ate and was full. They even collected 7 baskets of leftovers! Awesome, isn’t it? The leftovers were more than the food they had in the first place.
I am always amazed by Jesus’ miracles . However, in this passage I was drawn to his hospitable nature. I know I was joking about the Middle Eastern culture, but I am sure that culture and tradition was not the reason why Jesus insisted on feeding these people. He wasn’t trying to teach us to be good hosts; although that’s not a bad lesson to learn. I believe there’s something deeper behind His actions.
“They’ve been with me for 3 days”, Jesus said.” I don’t want to send them away hungry”. You know what that shows? It shows that God honors your commitment to sit in His presence and fellowship with Him. He honors the time you spend reading His word, praying, leaning in to see what He has to say to you. After a long day when you’d rather hold the remote and flip through the channels on TV, or put on your favorite show on Netflix, instead you reach to your Bible and you read it. Those are choices that bring blessing into your life. God says, “She/he loves to speak to me, they love my Word. They don’t show up only in time of their need or convenience, they show up because they’re committed to me, and so I won’t send them emptyhanded. I will listen to their prayers, even to the prayers that their lips haven’t uttered, because they invested in their relationship with ME”.
The secret is to sit in His presence. I mean think about these people on the mountain, for instance. They were living THE LIFE. They were witnessing healing, restoration, miraculous signs and the best of all hearing Jesus’ Himself teach. On that mountain, they had it all. So even if they had left without Jesus feeding them, it would NOT have been a deal breaker. But He said NO! No body leaves my presence hungry or in need! I provided them with spiritual food, now I’ll provide for their physical needs.
He’s the God Who cares for all aspect of your life.
It’s sad though, because we miss this truth at times. Many of us today try to have it all in life, and then squeeze in “some” form of godliness or prayer on the side. It should be the other way around! We should spend our BEST efforts learning who God is, building a good relationship with Him, and then as we live our daily life, He will take care of all the things that we need or even desire.
I don’t know what’s on your heart, as you read this. I just want you to know that your commitment, your showing up, your time with God is honored in His sight. If you haven’t been showing up, now is your chance to take your spot in the presence of the Master! Take your Bible and read it, spend time knowing Him and be committed and see how He will show up in the place of need and lack in your life and He will fill it generously.
For more on love, relationships & the single life check out Your Love is Better than Wine: Letters to Mr. Right.
You can also find it at “The GateWay Bookshop” & The “Bible Society” in Beirut, Lebanon.
You can also find it at “The GateWay Bookshop” & The “Bible Society” in Beirut, Lebanon.
michalmerhej 