A farmer’s crop is a provision from God (Deuteronomy 16:15), yet the farmer is required to harvest it. Each child born is a gift from God (Psalm 127:3), yet no pregnancy takes place without a man and woman’s union. Israel’s wars were won by God (Deuteronomy 20:4; Joshua 10:42), but Israel was still called to fight. In work, procreation, and the battles of life, God works with us in divine-human partnership. The same is true of the miraculous.

When Jesus was surrounded by an enormous crowd at Bethsaida, a practical matter arose about catering. The tired disciples who were originally brought there for some R&R (Mark 6:31) panicked when Jesus told them to feed the masses (Mark 6:37). They had just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, but Jesus miraculously fed the stadium-sized crowd with the meager morsels.

Now, notice a few things about the story:

Who was to feed the crowd? The disciples. Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll feed them,” but “You feed them” (Mark 6:37). Whose food was used? Whatever the disciples could scrounge up. Jesus didn’t make fish and bread fall from the sky; He used what they had (Mark 6:38). Who arranged the people? Distributed the food? Cleaned up afterwards? The disciples (Mark 6:39,41,43). But who did the miracle? Jesus. He directed the whole event (Mark 6:41).

God can harvest a field or win a battle without human involvement. He once arranged a virgin birth! But, in general, He performs miracles as humans act. Paul received his sight when Ananias prayed (Acts 9:17-18). A crowd was fed when the disciples distributed the bread.

Expect God’s blessings to flow through human hands, and offer Him the little you have for His miraculous use.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Daniel 2:1-24