Idolatry breaks down unity. Jeroboam knows it. He actually encourages it. He doesn't want to see the Kingdom return to David's house. He creates different idols and feasts to ensure that the unity he fears does not come about. Idolatry temporarily fills a vacuum that would otherwise draw us toward God. It eases a need in a temporary way but does nothing for us that lasts.
Jesus knows of the hunger that can cause the crowds to scatter. He knows that if he leaves the crowd with nothing they will inevitably go off on their own.
My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
because they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
If I send them away hungry to their homes,
they will collapse on the way,
and some of them have come a great distance.
Jesus refuses to leave the crowd to deal with their hunger on their own. The way he does deal with the hunger seems more impractical than people going out to various towns to fend for themselves. In fact, what Jesus offers, humanly speaking doesn't seem to be enough.
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They replied, “Seven.”
No matter how hungry we are, no matter how impossible it seems, Jesus is able to give us the bread that we desire. He is able to quench our thirst with streams of life-giving water. When we hunger, or have any desire in life, either toward or away from anything, let us be sure that we turn to Jesus. He should be the one to ultimately satisfy us. Let us be on guard for false substitutes, feasts of the world that in some ways try to duplicate the feasts of the LORD, but which ultimately leave us more hungry than ever. God alone satisfies. He alone is enough.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
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