2 Kings 4:38 – 44 “When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.”
One of them went out to the field to gather herbs, and he found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment could hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were.
And they poured it out for the men to eat, but when they tasted the stew they cried out, “There is death in the pot, O man of God!” And they could not eat it.
Then Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha.
But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?”
“Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’ ”
So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.”
Elisha has returned to Gilgal in the eastern part of Israel from Shunem to the west. Rather than stay in comfort in Shunem, Elisha is joining the sons of the prophets to teach them. Because of the idolatry that is rife in Israel, God has removed His blessings and there is a famine in the land. One of the young men goes out to collect wild cucumbers or wild squash, but he makes a mistake. The website https://bible.org/seriespage/11-death-pot-2-kings-438-41 tells us, “Untrained in these matters, he mistook the wild vine for an edible cucumber or squash. What he found is believed to be the citrallus colocynthus, which had a leaf like a squash but was bitter and poisonous due to its very severe purgative qualities. If eaten in large amounts, it would tear up the digestive tract and could even cause death. In small amounts you might not die, but you might think you were going to – and might even want to.”
What happens to the stew when Elisha pours that flour into it? God intervenes and heals the stew, removing the poison from it. But what must the prophets be thinking as Elisha orders them to try the stew again? After suffering from severe stomach cramps, it might take a great deal of faith just to try that stew again!
A man brings a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. This donation represents an offering of first fruits; the man is not keeping his new grain for himself but is sharing it with men of God. But there are only twenty loaves and there are one hundred men to feed. Again, the servant just keeps handing out pieces of bread and the bread feeds all these men. In addition, there are still lots of left overs after everyone has eaten his fill.
Notice something. The only thing that makes these men special is that in a time when many in Israel are pursuing idols of all kinds, these men have dedicated themselves to learning about the One True Living God. Are these men perfect? Far from it! But God is honoring the dedication of these men by providing for them.
APPLICATION: There have been all kinds of lessons drawn from these two stories. The sons of the prophets are those men who have dedicated themselves to serving God and to learning more about him. Because of that dedication, even though a famine is hitting the land, God is still providing for these men.
We live in uncertain times. Economies are shaking and collapsing. Industries are failing. There is political unrest in a number of places. But God still has people who love Him and who are serving Him. God will take care of His people. Does that mean that we will not suffer along with everyone else? Of course not! The famine is hitting these men at Gilgal just as it is hitting everywhere else in Israel. But God faithfully provides their basic needs.
What eventually happens to these men is not known. It is possible that later some of them may die for their faith. But on this day, at this point in time, God shows up and supplies abundantly.
Throughout the world, Christians are dying for their faith. It is entirely possible that we too may eventually be called on to lay down our lives. Let us trust that if and when that time comes, God will give us the strength, the grace, and the courage to endure to the end. The same God who has healed the stew and provided bread for these one hundred men is still able. Let us praise Him and worship Him!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives and help us to trust You to provide for us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment