DoublePortion_October2023_8.5x5.5_REV.indd

the people were hungry so Elisha ordered the bread distributed among the people. Doubt from a servant- In response to Elisha’s instructions, the Bible records the question, “How can I set this before a hundred men?’ his servant asked ” (2 Kings 4:43).There’s little doubt this servant was Gehazi. Eventually, one’s true colors surface, especially during times of crises. Recall that at the beginning of the feeding of the 5000, Jesus told the disciples to give them something to eat, to which they responded, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii (eight months wages) on bread and give them something to eat?” (Mark 6:37). Despite the fact that Jesus had already performed miracles, the disciples couldn’t visualize a divine solution. Immediately after that, the disciples were aboard a storm tossed boat on the Sea of Galilee.Walking on water to help them, Jesus invited Peter to join him.The disciple did well for a while, “But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out,‘Lord, save me!’” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said,‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:30,31, emphasis added). Candidly speaking, we all struggle with doubt on occasion. From simple matters like our team winning the game to significant issues such as heaven and hell, we all face disbelief. Satan delights in muddling our minds, conjuring up as much uncertainty as he possi bly can. It is one of his favorite weapons, one he used in the Garden of Eden. It was there where he asked Eve, “Did God really say,‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’’’ (Genesis 3:1, NIV). Likewise, when the 12 spies came back with their report about the land of Canaan, a grumbling, fearful people responded in disbelief. As a result, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Eighteenth century German writer and statesman JohannWolfgang

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