But What Are They
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
— John 6:9 (NIV)
Barley was the cheap grain, what poorer families ate. The loaves were small and flat, closer to rolls than to anything you would slice. Andrew mentions it and adds straight away that it is nothing against a crowd that size. Jesus does not comment on how little it is. He tells everyone to sit down, and gives thanks for it before anything has multiplied.
People keep back what they have because it looks too small. Andrew named the shortfall out loud and handed the food over anyway. Say how far short you are today, and hand over what you have. Andrew said the shortfall out loud and handed the food over anyway. Say how far short you are today, and hand over what you have.
Hand It Over Anyway
- 1Name the gap plainly: what is needed, what you have. No pretending either number is different.
- 2Give thanks for the small number before you know how it turns out.
- 3Offer your part to someone today without apologising for its size.
Jesus, this is all I have. Thank You for it before I see what happens.
I will give what I have, even though it is little.
Why does the text mention barley?
Barley was the cheaper grain eaten by poorer families. The detail underlines how modest the offering was.
Why point out how little it is?
Andrew names the shortfall honestly and hands it over anyway. Faith here is not pretending the numbers work.
When did Jesus give thanks?
Before the food multiplied, while it was still five loaves and two fish. The thanksgiving came over the small amount, not the result.