Yesterday I observed that the Philistines ran an elaborate experiment to prove that God was real, but they did not follow that discovery with worship and obedience. I noticed that the disciples were guilty of much the same thing in Mark 8. Jesus had just fed the 4,000 and been challenged by the Pharisees to produce a “sign from heaven.” (Feeding 4,000+ people isn’t enough?) In the boat with his disciples, Jesus warns them metaphorically about the Pharisees:

“Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees.” (Mark 8.15, NIV)

The disciples, not all that bright, are trying to figure out what he’s talking about and can conclude only that they are in trouble for not bringing more bread. Here is Jesus’ rather stern response:

Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus said to them, “Why all this fussing over forgetting to bring bread? Do you still not see or understand what I say to you? Are your hearts still hard? You have good eyes, yet you still don’t see, and you have good ears, yet you still don’t hear, neither do you remember. When I multiplied the bread to feed more than five thousand people, how many baskets full of leftovers did you gather afterward?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I multiplied food to feed over four thousand, how many large baskets full of leftovers did you gather afterwards?” “Seven,” they replied. “Then how is it that you still don’t get it?” (Mark 8.17 – 21, TPT)

We know that God can help us and that he has helped us in the past, but we sometimes don’t apply that truth to the challenge we’re facing right now.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41.10, ESV)