Jesus acts even though his disciples "don't get it." In contrast to the multitudes who flock to Jesus for miracles, the disciples seem blind to his true character (compare Weeden 1971:28); despite Jesus' earlier feeding miracle, they assume again that they must procure bread by purely natural means (v. 33). They are still learning, and Jesus does not yet reprove their unbelief-although he will if it continues (16:8-11). He demands more of maturer Christians who have seen his works than he does from young Christians who have seen fewer (compare Ex 17:5-6; 32:10; Num 14:22-23). Some contemporary writers say that God acts only in response to faith; in the Bible, however, he sometimes acts in advance of faith to teach us how to trust him.