I realized it was a miracle, later!

God does whatever is necessary to preserve His reputation and bring glory to Himself in the society where He is working.

It was in Kenya, East Africa, during our church planting project that this occasion took place. At the time I didn’t think to much about it, but as time goes by and I study and prepare messages about missions, mission projects, and the experiences that happen during the course of these projects I have come to see some of the things that happen just a bit more clearly.

This particular incident happened one day when I went out into the bush country in Kenya, in the coastal area near Malindi. We had a team of 20 or so, and were doing personal evangelism with the stated objective of starting new churches. We go out in twos and link up with the pastor of the sponsoring church who has invited us, along with the interpreters. This day I went with one of our teams to help and also see how they were doing. I had selected this particular team because they were giving good testimonies of God’s working in our report meetings. The team goes to the village or area where the sponsoring church wants to start a new work. It proved to be an experience I will not forget.

We left the hotel quite early so we could get on the field and have a full day of work. As we went along through the fields and bush country, walking of course, we went along a little foot path only about a foot wide, which meant walking in single file. As we began to witness to people, the Holy Spirit convicted the folk that what we were telling them is the truth, and they wanted to commit the rest of their lives to Christ. They were even willing to go inside their houses, bring out all the statues and charms that they had been using in their worship of the spirits, and build a fire and burn them. As the people were saved and we would move on to the next home or village, there would inevitably be some who would be excited about what was happening, and so happy about their new found salvation that they would fall in line and go right along with us to the next place, and listen to the plan of salvation all over again. They could be helpful because they could give testimony of what they had just done a few minutes before.

This process continued until the lunch stop and by that time there was quite a long line of folk following along. The line might grow to 100 yards or so. Today was no exception. When we stopped under a huge Mango tree to eat our box lunch, which had been prepared by our hotel, we had quite a crowd of kids and adults as well. Normally, the Africans would make sure we were comfortable, and then go away while we ate our lunch. Most of the time the pastor and the interpreter would stay around and we would finish by giving them our box lunch, then we would have some peanut butter and crackers, etc., that we had stashed in our bags. However, this day no one left. They just all drew nigh to see what we were going to do, I guess. Whatever motivated them to stay was for the good I suppose, because God used it to teach us all a lesson. I told the others with me that I didn’t think I could eat with all those eyes watching me, with such pitiful looks on their little dirty faces. Therefore we made the foolish decision, without a great deal of thinking, that we would just share our three box lunches with them. We spread it all out on the little table they had provided for us and I took my small knife and we cut it up into two or three pieces. This included everything, such as the piece of chicken, the boiled egg, and the sandwich. We then asked the people to start by in single file and receive some food. They would walk by with that little dirty hand out with the palm up to receive whatever we would put in it. Some times the little dirty face and big sad eyes would get just a bit bigger piece. Every one of the children and adults came by and received their portion. Much to our amazement they all came by, and there was still plenty for us. Our team member turned to me and asked, “How many do you suppose there were?” I told her there were 77. It was hard to believe but I counted each one of them as they came by. There were 77 people who ate from our three lunches and we still had plenty for us to eat. I asked the pastors that were with us to take the empty boxes and the leftovers home with them for their families.

It suddenly dawned upon us that this was a story that had been played out before on the shores of Galilee, with just a small lunch of bread and fish, then again the very next day with seven loaves of bread. I don’t know what you would call it but as far as I am concerned it was nothing short of a miracle. I didn’t recognize it as such when we were doing it and really didn’t consider that we might get in deeper than we could get out. It would have been tragic if there had not been enough to go around, but you see, God does what he needs to in any given society, or culture, or circumstance, to bring honor and glory to Himself. I do give Him that honor and glory. It was a miracle, and I got to be a part of it. I never one time conscientiously realized that God was doing a miracle. It never occurred to me to realize or say, “Hey y’all, God is working a miracle!” Therefore He got all the credit. I’m not sure the Africans realized what happened, but if they thought about it at all they must have felt that at best this happening was a bit strange. I might find out what they thought one day when we get together in Heaven.

W. Arnold Tanner