Good Food and Plenty of It

2 Kings 4:38 (ESV) And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”

Famines were common in the ancient agricultural age. The Israelites were promised times of hardship and famines if they disobeyed the terms of the Covenant. Now there's debate as to whether or not these famines were miraculously caused as a supernatural judgment or the natural results of lifestyles in God's people filled with sexual immorality, greed, excessive indulgence, and rampant injustice. I believe it can be both although I'm of the opinion that more often than not, the sinful ways of a nation naturally contribute to its own self-destruction.

What is the common theme throughout the books of 1 and 2 Kings when times of hardship come? That God through His prophets protects, preserves and provides for those that serve him regardless of what happens around them. Throughout scripture's narrative, this is the case even beginning with Abraham who experienced blessing in spite of terrible troubles all around. God watches over His own in every age.

2 Kings 4:39–40 (ESV) One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 40 And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.

In ancient times a famine brought the greater risk of eating something harmful as is evident here with the prophet adding wild gourds to the stew. The prophet was not an agriculturalist and hunger can lead us to make questionable dietary choices. The scavenging for food leads to deadly or bitter-tasting stew for the school of the prophets and more hunger is imminent.

Elisha comes to the rescue. 

2 Kings 4:41 (ESV) He said, “Then bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Pour some out for the men, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.

The answer to their problem was not magic flower as you might suppose from the narrative but rather the intervention of God's Word from the prophet to their problem and their obedience to God's Word. Even in this moment of great fear and anxiety for Israel, the Lord looks after His own. 

Upon the healing of the stew there soon arises another problem. There's not enough food. A man brings twenty loaves of bread but there are 100 men. The prospect of his supply is laughable but Elisha once again speaks a word and provision occurs. 

2 Kings 4:42–44 (ESV) A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” 43 But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’ ” 44 So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.

Notice that this man from Baal-shalishah wants to bring the bread to the man of God as "firstfruits". This would be a gift to God. But Elisha directs him to give it to the men. In times of crisis, the church must forego religious practices to serve the practical needs of people.

In the first miracle, God makes the food turn from harmful to helpful. In the second miracle, the Lord turns the food from lacking to overflowing. This miracle, of course, draws our attention to the miracle-working power of Christ as He both feeds God's people the true and good word in an age where the religious elites fed the people poisonous truth which brought death. He also multiplies the Word through His servants sent out to make disciples of all nations. 

The message of these miracles is clear: God will feed His servants good and plentiful food so that the message of His grace can resound to the ends of the Earth. If we have eaten and enjoyed, we must pass it on and become part of the team that brings it to the rest of the human race.