'A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing the man of God twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred?” Elisha again said, “Give it to the people to eat, for thus says the Lord: You will eat and have some left over.” He set it before them, and when they had eaten, they had some left over, according to the word of the Lord (2 Kings 4:42-44).’
In the Christian view, the OT points forward to the NT and the NT is the fulfillment of the OT. Elisha was a pupil of Elijah the prophet and succeeded him (c. 851 BC) after Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1-25). Elisha was granted extraordinary powers by God and was highly esteemed poor. Elisha was given a gift of 20 loaves of bread with which he told his servant to feed the poor. Elisha’s servant was taken aback by his command because it was impossible for so few loaves to feed so many. The servant did as he was told an all ate and some was left over ‘according to the word of the Lord.’ Christians see this as a foreshadowing/prefiguration of the multiplication of the loaves by Jesus. Elisha fed 100 people with 20 loaves. Jesus fed 5,000 men, not counting the women and children, with fives loaves and two fishes and had 12 baskets of bread left over. God always provides for His people through persons of faith throughout al generations.
Almighty God, through your mercy we have been granted the precious gift of faith necessary for our salvation. It is your hand that feeds us and your grace takes care of all our needs. In times of doubt increase our faith so that we may persevere to the end and be chosen to attend the heavenly banquet in your kingdom. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Comments