INTRODUCTION

Man can, at times, readily recognize problems that arise, but often initially reacts with solutions to remove the problem out of sight. As the disciples looked out over the multitude in today’s passage, they saw thousands in a desert place with a lack of provisions. They quickly viewed what seemed to them as an insurmountable problem. As evening approached, they came to the Lord and suggested that He send the people away. The disciples were more comfortable with the problem if it was out of sight, out of mind, and not theirs to face. Their suggestion was an unacceptable solution. For this reason, the Lord put the problem back upon the disciples when He said to them, “Give ye them to eat” (Mark 6:37He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
See All...). In other words, the problem would not go away or solve itself. The Lord directed the disciples to find a solution and their turning a blind eye was completely unacceptable.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Man does not want to face his sin problem. He tries to put it out of sight by getting rid of God’s word or anyone who points out the problem (Jeremiah 36:21-26 [21] So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. [22] Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. [23] And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. [24] Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. [25] Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them. [26] But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.
  See All...; John 19:15But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
  See All...a; Acts 7:52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
  See All...; Acts 22:22And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
  See All...). Ignoring the sin problem is dangerous (Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): What is a problem that you are currently facing? Up to this point, what has been your solution in dealing with the problem? Have you tried to send the problem away?
• What additional problems could have occurred if the Lord sent the people away? Is it possible that some of the people would have experienced significant problems by leaving without food?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to show you that problems cannot be sent away.
• Ask God to help you see the complications of ignoring problems.

HYMN

Have Thine Own Way, Lord!

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