12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
We often think of the disciples as individuals who don’t seem to get it right very often. Many times they say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Sometimes they completely miss what Jesus is saying. I think they were right on the ball this time. They were paying attention to the needs of the crowd. They recognized their remote location and the lack of adequate resources. They developed a plan to meet those needs and they began to put the plan into action. Sounds like the type of people I want to have at my side. They were being proactive in their approach to this problem. Jesus has an even better plan in mind for the crowd. Our best plans might be good, but Jesus might have a better plan. Does this mean we should just sit back and let Jesus come up with a plan? No! As we are making our plan we can be sensitive to the direction of the Holy Spirit. He is able to guide us in our plan making, if we are listening. If this happens our plan gets molded into His plan. Flexibility is the key. When our plan becomes the immovable object, they our plan is getting in the way. Our plan has become the obstacle rather than the solution. We must never become so invested in getting our own way that the solution God provides has to take a back seat. And we need to be open to the solutions of others. Perhaps God is going to use them to bring the better solution. Are you willing to allow someone else to rise? Can you support their solution with as much enthusiasm as you do your own? Can you let them get credit even if it was your idea? The disciples were working to find a solution. Jesus had a better one. The need of the people was met. And after all, isn’t that what counts in the end!
The Arnold Journey 