It's Just a Test

In my Bible reading today I was struck by a comment inserted in the story of the feeding of the five thousand (John 6). It says:

Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

Then Philip went on to try and solve the puzzle. What I find interesting is that Jesus already knew the answer. He knew exactly what his plan was. He knew exactly how he was going to feed the large crowd. But he threw the problem at Philip, just to see what he would say. And after Philip gives his attempt at a solution, Jesus goes ahead with his plan and feeds over five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish.

God continues to work in this same way in our lives today. He already knows what He is going to do. But He wants to involve us in the process. He wants us to build our faith, and trust Him for what seems impossible to us. Of course, nothing is impossible with God. But we tend to forget this. When faced with a problem, do you try to figure it out on your own? Or do you turn to the one who already has the answer, trusting Him for the solution?

I pray that we can remember this simple fact as we face circumstances in our lives. Jesus is testing us, for He already knows what He would do.