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ilence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God。 He bids us； 〃Be still； and know that I am God。〃 Ps。 46：10。 Here alone can true rest be found。 And this is the effectual preparation for all who labor for God。 Amid the hurrying throng； and the strain of life's intense activities； the soul that is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace。 The life will breathe out fragrance； and will reveal a divine power that will reach men's hearts。
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Chapter 39
〃Give Ye Them to Eat〃
Christ had retired to a secluded place with His disciples； but this rare season of peaceful quietude was soon broken。 The disciples thought they had retired where they would not be disturbed； but as soon as the multitude missed the divine Teacher； they inquired； 〃Where is He？〃 Some among them had noticed the direction in which Christ and His disciples had gone。 Many went by land to meet them； while others followed in their boats across the water。 The Passover was at hand； and； from far and near； bands of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem gathered to see Jesus。 Additions were made to their number； until there were assembled five thousand men besides women and children。 Before Christ reached the shore； a multitude were waiting for Him。 But He landed unobserved by them； and spent a little time apart with the disciples。
From the hillside He looked upon the moving multitude； and His heart was stirred with sympathy。 Interrupted as He was； and robbed of His rest； He was not impatient。 He saw a greater necessity demanding His attention as He watched the people coming and still coming。 He 〃was moved with compassion toward them； because they were as sheep not having a shepherd。〃 Leaving His retreat； He found a convenient place where He could minister to them。 They received no help from
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the priests and rulers； but the healing waters of life flowed from Christ as He taught the multitude the way of salvation。
The people listened to the words of mercy flowing so freely from the lips of the Son of God。 They heard the gracious words； so simple and so plain that they were as the balm of Gilead to their souls。 The healing of His divine hand brought gladness and life to the dying； and ease and health to those suffering with disease。 The day seemed to them like heaven upon earth； and they were utterly unconscious of how long it had been since they had eaten anything。
At length the day was far spent。 The sun was sinking in the west； and yet the people lingered。 Jesus had labored all day without food or rest。 He was pale from weariness and hunger； and the disciples besought Him to cease from His toil。 But He could not withdraw Himself from the multitude that pressed upon Him。
The disciples finally came to Him； urging that for their own sake the people should be sent away。 Many had come from far； and had eaten nothing since morning。 In the surrounding towns and villages they might be able to buy food。 But Jesus said； 〃Give ye them to eat；〃 and then； turning to Philip； questioned； 〃Whence shall we buy bread； that these may eat？〃 This He said to test the faith of the disciple。 Philip looked over the sea of heads； and thought how impossible it would be to provide food to satisfy the wants of such a crowd。 He answered that two hundred pennyworth of bread would not be nearly enough to divide among them； so that each might have a little。 Jesus inquired how much food could be found among the company。 〃There is a lad here；〃 said Andrew； 〃which hath five barley loaves； and two small fishes； but what are they among so many？〃 Jesus directed that these be brought to Him。 Then He bade the disciples seat the people on the grass in parties of fifty or a hundred； to preserve order； and that all might witness what He was about to do。 When this was accomplished； Jesus took the food； 〃and looking up to heaven； He blessed； and brake； and gave the loaves to His disciples； and the disciples to the multitude。〃 〃And they did all eat； and were filled。 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments； and of the fishes。〃
He who taught the people the way to secure peace and happiness was just as thoughtful of their temporal necessities as of their spiritual need。 The people were weary and faint。 There were mothers with babes in their arms； and little children clinging to their skirts。 Many had been standing for hours。 They had been so intensely interested
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in Christ's words that they had not once thought of sitting down； and the crowd was so great that there was danger of their trampling on one another。 Jesus would give them a chance to rest； and He bade them sit down。 There was much grass in the place； and all could rest in comfort。
Christ never worked a miracle except to supply a genuine necessity； and every miracle was of a character to lead the people to the tree of life； whose leaves are for the healing of the nations。 The simple food
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passed round by the hands of the disciples contained a whole treasure of lessons。 It was humble fare that had been provided； the fishes and barley loaves were the daily food of the fisher folk about the Sea of Galilee。 Christ could have spread before the people a rich repast； but food prepared merely for the gratification of appetite would have conveyed no lesson for their good。 Christ taught them in this lesson that the natural provisions of God for man had been perverted。 And never did people enjoy the luxurious feasts prepared for the gratification of perverted taste as this people enjoyed the rest and the simple food which Christ provided so far from human habitations。
If men today were simple in their habits； living in harmony with nature's laws； as did Adam and Eve in the beginning； there would be an abundant supply for the needs of the human family。 There would be fewer imaginary wants； and more opportunities to work in God's ways。 But selfishness and the indulgence of unnatural taste have brought sin and misery into the world； from excess on the one hand； and from want on the other。
Jesus did not seek to attract the people to Him by gratifying the desire for luxury。 To that great throng； weary and hungry after the long； exciting day； the simple fare was an assurance not only of His power； but of His tender care for them in the common needs of life。 The Saviour has not promised His followers the luxuries of the world； their fare may be plain； and even scanty； their lot may be shut in by poverty； but His word is pledged that their need shall be supplied； and He has promised that which is far better than worldly good；the abiding comfort of His own presence。
In feeding the five thousand； Jesus lifts the veil from the world of nature； and reveals the power that is constantly exercised for our good。 In the production of earth's harvests God is working a miracle every day。 Through natural agencies the same work is accomplished that was wrought in the feeding of the multitude。 Men prepare the soil and sow the seed； but it is the life from God that causes the seed to germinate。 It is God's rain and air and sunshine that cause it to put forth； 〃first the blade； then the ear； after that the full corn in the ear。〃 Mark 4：28。 It is God who is every day feeding millions from earth's harvest fields。 Men are called upon to co…operate with God in the care of the grain and the preparation of the loaf； and because of this they lose sight of the divine agency。 They do not give God the glory due unto
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His holy name。 The working of His power is ascribed to natural causes or to human instrumentality。 Man is glorified in place of God； and His gracious gifts are perverted to selfish uses； and made a curse instead of a blessing。 God is seeking to change all this。 He desires that our dull senses shall be quickened to discern His merciful kindness and to glorify Him for the working of His power。 He desires us to recognize Him in His gifts； that they may be； as He intended； a blessing to us。 It was to accomplish this purpose that the miracles of Christ were performed。
After the multitude had been fed； there was an abundance of food left。 But He who had all the resources of infinite power at His command said； 〃Gather up the fragments that remain； that nothing be lost。〃 These words meant more than putting the bread into the baskets。 The lesson was twofold。 Nothing is to be wasted。 We are to let slip no temporal advantage。 We should neglect nothing that will tend to benefit a human being。 Let everything be gathered up that will relieve the necessity of earth's hungry ones。 And there should be the same carefulness in spiritual things。 When the baskets of fragments were collected； the people thought of their friends at home。 They wanted them to share in the bread that Christ had blessed。 The contents of the baskets were distributed among the eager throng； and were carried away into all the region round about。 So those who were at the feast were to give to others the bread that comes down from heaven； to satisfy the hunger of the soul。 They were to repeat what they had learned of the wo