This chapter contains many beautiful threads which display the Lord’s sovereignty as well as His tenderness. When Jesus saw the crowd, He told Philip to provide food for them, knowing it was impossible; but “He Himself knew what He would do” (v. 6). As someone once said, “When we are down to nothing, God is up to something.”

Philip correctly realized that even the purchase of a tremendous amount of bread would be scarcely enough to give the crowd more than a nibble. Yet when the Lord answered the need, He gave them not only bread but also fish—and as much as they wanted! Our most impressive efforts are never even close to enough, but His blessings are always much more than enough.

And then we hear something very tender when He says, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” The need had been met, but the Lord would not leave the fragments behind. They were only leftovers, yet when gathered together they filled twelve baskets—perhaps one for each disciple to carry along.

In our lives, too, there often seem to be fragments left on the ground. Perhaps the Lord has blessed our relationships, but we have had some brokenness as well. We might see how He answered our prayers, yet sometimes we wonder why He took as long as He did. Though He has woven our experiences together, some of our tangled history seems only suitable for the discard pile. Nevertheless, the Lord never wastes even one single moment. In the end, He will gather the fragments that remain; and then we can carry them along as a testimony to His gracious ways.