When war broke out against Nazi Germany on September 3rd 1939, British soldiers, known as the British Expeditionary Force, were sent across the channel to help the French and later the Belgian armies against invasion by the Germans. But the Allied forces underestimated the strength of Hitler’s army, which used tanks and bombers to smash the Allied defenses and drive them back into France.

Overpowered, the BEF was ordered to make a hasty retreat towards the port of Dunkirk. As they trickled into Dunkirk, the troops found themselves stranded without shelter or supplies. They were also under constant attack from the air. On 26 May, the British Admiralty responded by launching Operation Dynamo - the evacuation of the BEF by sea. This enormous rescue mission was led by Vice Admiral Ramsay, who rounded-up a huge fleet of vessels - from tiny tugs and barges, to lifeboats and navy destroyers - to send to Dunkirk.

As the allied rescue ships approached Dunkirk they were easy targets for the German Stuka bombers. The narrow sea approach with its deadly minefields left little room for evasive action and the harbor was under constant bombardment. It was left to the smallest ships to pick up soldiers from the shallow beaches and transport them to the destroyers and transport ships waiting offshore. Of the 850 vessels which took part in Operation Dynamo, 235 were sunk.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/uk/2000/dunkirk_remembered/default.stm.)

Transition: The story of Dunkirk resonates with us because it’s well nigh Biblical. It’s the familiar story of how good people are brought to their wit’s end. It’s the celebrated tale of the little guy, hanging on by a thread. It’s the ordinary person backed into a corner but refusing to give up.

I’m fascinated by the number of stories in Scripture that have to do with God putting His people in impossible situations.

Exodus 14:1-2; 9-10 Then the LORD said to Moses,² "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea. The Egyptians-all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops-pursued the Israelites. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD (NIV).

Mark 6:45 "Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.⁴⁶ After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.⁴⁷ When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.⁴⁸ He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake.

This passage tells us that "about the fourth watch of the night" He went out to them walking on the lake." That’s significant because it tells us approximately how long He watched them straining at the oars.

From early evening until the fourth watch of the night was seven hours. For seven hours Jesus watched those He loved, try to save their lives. Note the word "straining" in v48. It’s translated "toiling" in the old King James. It suggests grievous physical pain and mental anguish. This is how these men felt.

This is the theme of the Abraham and Sarah story. God sent his angel to talk to Abraham about being the father of the Jewish nation. He tells Abraham, "Your descendants will be as numerous as the sand on the seashore and the stars in the sky. You’re going to have a son within the year."

How do you suppose Abraham reacted to such a promise? He was ninety years old and his wife Sarah was barren and withered. It’s an absolutely impossible situation.

Transition: Daniel in the lion’s den, the three Hebrew children in the furnace, the children of Israel in the desert, Esther, Ruth, Hannah – over and over God places His people in impossible situations and then stands back to watch.

St. John tells us in the gospel lesson for today that over five thousand people follow Jesus into the wilderness. Whatever food they carried with them is gone. They’re in a desolate place. They’re hungry and Jesus turns to the disciples and says, "I feel compassion for these people. They’ve followed me for three days listening to my preaching. I can't send them away hungry."

The disciples respond, "There’s no way to feed this many people. This is an impossible situation."

Phillip speaks up, "There’s a lad here with four barley loaves."

The Bible tells us, "So Jesus took the five loaves, gave thanks, brake, and gave to His disciples to set before them. So they did eat and were filled."

Notice that the miracle didn’t take place until two things happened. First, the disciples recognized they were in an impossible situation. They understand that in and of themselves they don’t have what it takes. Second, they give Him what they have – their loaves of bread.

Illustration: Think of it this way: When I hold a basketball in my hands, it’s just a basketball. But when you place that same basketball in the hands of Michael Jordan, it turns into collegiate and professional championships. Put a paintbrush in my hands, and it’s just a paintbrush. But put a paintbrush in the hands of Emin Abbasov, and you get works of art.

This is the bottom line: If we put what we have in God’s hands, He’ll bless it, multiple it and making it a blessing for others. Some people may be saying, "But, all I have is me and I’m not worth giving." You are all God wants. God says, "If you will give me what you have, I will transform it. I will change it. I will bless it and make it grow."

The little we have, we surrender to God. He takes it, blesses it and makes it a blessing to others. This morning as we come to the table we offer ourselves. We offer our bodies, our souls, our minds, our wills - everything that we have - we surrender to Him. And we ask Him to multiply his blessings upon us. We know that he will continue to work his miracle in us if we surrender to him.

Illustration: Luke 21:1-4 "And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.³ So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

Mary is another example of how God takes what we give Him, blesses and multiplies it to bless others. The angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced that she would be the mother of God. Think about that! Mary could have said, "Well, I don’t know. You see, I’m engaged to Joseph and we’re going to be married shortly. I’m honored. I’m pleased. Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t really want to do that."

No, in her generosity, she says, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord. Be it done to me according to thy word." She surrenders completely to God. She yields herself to Him. She says yes to Him. She gives Him what she has and she is christened Theotokos, the mother of God.

God places us in difficult situations. When we turn to Him, He takes what we have and blesses it and distributes it to others. Amen.