Suggested reading: 2 Kings chapter 4 verses 42-44.
THE UN-NAMED PROVIDER
He is simply described as ‘a man . . . from ‘Baal Shalisha’, verse 42. In a time of famine, he brought God the first-fruits that rightly belonged to Him. He gave willingly and bountifully; indeed, he was even prepared to give the very best that he had; i.e. newly ripened grain, verse 42. Our minds travel forward to the words of Andrew, a disciple, to Jesus, ‘There is a lad here, who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what bare they among so many?’, John chapter 6 verse 9.
THE UNSELFISH PROVIDER
Elisha’s gracious response to the man’s gift, was to say to his servant, ‘Give it to the people, that they may eat’ verse 42. Elisha’s concern was not for self-preservation, but his heart reached out in compassion to meet the needs of others. Again, it reminds us of the words of Jesus to His disciples, concerning the needs of the 5000+ people who were with them in a deserted place. He said to them, ‘You give them something to eat’, Mark chapter 6 verse 37. His concern was for them, rather than for Himself; indeed, He was ‘moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd’, Mark chapter 6 verse 34.
THE UNGRACIOUS SERVANT
The response of Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, betrayed his selfish spirit: ‘What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?’, verse 43. The disciples displayed a similar ungracious response, when they said to the Lord, ‘This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away’, Mark chapter 6 verse 36. They viewed the people as a problem, whereas Jesus saw them as those to whom He could display His grace.
THE UNLIMITED SUPPLY
Elisha’s confident prediction was that one hundred people would eat and also have some left over. This came to fruition, but when Jesus spoke, five barley loaves and two small fishes fully satisfied 5,000+ needy people! Indeed, twelve baskets of fragments were gathered up. The Psalmist’s words are apposite: ‘O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endures forever . . . For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness’, Psalm 107 verse 1, 9.
To be continued