2 Kings 4:42–44 ‘Give it to the people to eat. For… the LORD says: “They will eat and have some left over.”’ (v43)
Not only does God work by imparting His wisdom, as we saw yesterday, but sometimes He does something miraculous through the things of His creation.
In today’s passage, Elisha illustrates God’s miraculous extension of twenty loaves of barley bread to feed the hundred hungry men.
That this bread came from the ‘first ripe corn’ (v42) means that it probably came from an offering of the bread of firstfruits, as outlined in Leviticus 23:20.
The famine must have been at its most severe, therefore, and the band of prophets would have been very hungry.
Elisha tells the servant to serve the bread, believing that God will multiply the food so that everyone is satisfied. The prophet is proven right when this small provision feeds them all.
When you read this story, do you think of Jesus’ miracles of feeding the thousands with some loaves of barley and a few fish (Matt. 14:13– 21;15:32–39)?
In both cases of the Old Testament and the New, God took something small that the people gave and expanded it to feed many more than should have been possible.
And in both instances, God demonstrates His abundance by making sure there were leftovers too.
Perhaps the Lord likes to involve us in His miracles because our faith becomes stronger when we realise that we’ve played a small role in extending His kingdom when we partner with Him.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Lord Jesus Christ, You had mercy on the hungry. Help me to share my possessions with those who have less than I do. Thank You for providing for me. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Offer up something tangible to God as a gift, that He would multiply it and use it for His glory.
Scripture To Consider:
Ps. 55:22–23; Isa. 41:12–13; Matt. 6:25–34; Phil. 4:6–7
