"He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.”~ Mk.6:38
Years ago, on a game show, one of the questions for the contestants was, "What is the exact amount of money you have on your person at this moment?" This is what Jesus asked His disciples, in essence, "What do you have on hand, at this moment of time?"
It is difficult to believe our Lord didn't already know the answer. We're told He knew Nathaniel before he came to him, as well as what was in the heart of man, and many like things. So why the, "go and see?" All I can surmise is that He wanted to teach them they were to be aware of their inventory at all times. That is, to always know what is on hand.
Evidently they learned the lesson, for a little later, in chapter eight verse five, we read "And He asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, seven." They didn't have to "go and see" this time.
Women are prone to know what's in the cupboard more than we men. "And Elisha said unto her...tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil." But this in no way excuses us men.
The pastor is to "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks." And the husband is to dwell with his wife according to knowledge. To supply others' needs, one must first know what he or she has to contribute. Even if it is a humbling "few" and "small."
Jesus won't multiply our little to help others until we know and admit what we have on hand. Therefore, let us "go and see."
Helpful for me today