John 6:6

Jesus was asking Phillip the question about feeding the crowd to test him. The fact is he already knew the answer and what he was planning to do.  John 6:6 EFP

Well, I guess this answers the question as to why Jesus asked Phillip the question.  In short—he is testing him.  It is, after all, God’s prerogative to test us, isn’t it?  It may be uncomfortable and disconcerting, but there is no doubt God has his reasons for doing so.  Perhaps it is for no other reason than to make us uncomfortable or disconcerted.  Those moments of testing and trial are often needed to get us to wake up or stand up or shore up.  Living in a state of stupor, taking life as it comes with no clue, is dangerous, even deadly.  It’s like driving when you’re half asleep.

This text remind me of a second truth regarding God’s choice to test me—he already knows what he is going to do before he leads me into the maze.  He has the solution.  He has already processed the best way to resolve my predicament.  He knows how to get me out!  God is never caught off guard.  Oh yeah, I may not be all that willing to sign on to what he has in store.  My response might not line up with his solution.  I may choose a totally different path to take than the one he knows is best.  He can handle that too.  But if I am willing to wait and listen to his promptings, God will work it out.  He knows what’s best before he sets up the scenario to shake me out of my lax living. The critical part is for me to learn to listen to his prompts…and fall on my knees to tune in to his leading. This lesson is not an easy one to learn.