“Then a man cam from Baal Shalisha, and brought the Man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, ‘Give it to the people, that they may eat.’

“But his servant said, ‘What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?’

“He said again, ‘Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD; ‘They shall eat and have some leftover.’ So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD” (2 Kings 4:42-44).

Food was needed. They were in a famine (2 Kings 4:38; 6:25; 7:3-4; 8:1).

A man comes from Baal Shalisha (possibly, Ephraim) to Elisha at Gilgal (on Judah/Benjamin border). He brings his first fruits.

The firstfruits were to be presented to the priests in temple (Exodus 23:19; Numbers 18:12-13; Leviticus 23:9-14; Deuteronomy 26:1-11). Why does this man bring it to Elisha? (1) This probably indicates that this man rejected the worship system set up by Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:25-33). (2) Righteous priests and Levites had left Israel for Judah (2 Chronicles 11:13-14). Elisha may have been the best representative of God left working in Israel. Still, why not take it to the temple in Jerusalem? We are not told. (3) It may be that Elijah set an example of the need to support the prophets (1 Kings 17:8-16). Still, why did he not take this to the temple in Jerusalem? We are not told. (4) It is possible that the LORD instructed this man to bring his firstfruits to Elisha. We know that Elisha says, “Give it to the people that they may eat; for thus says the LORD…” (2 Kings 4:43). The LORD tells the man of God (prophet) to do this.

A hundred men are with Elisha. “The sons of the prophets” are with him (2 Kings 5:38 cf. 2:3, 5, 7, 15; 4:1; 4:38; 5:22; 6:1). These men seem to be students, helpers and supporters of prophets (such as Elijah and Elisha) that had gathered around them.

A miracle occurs. This large group is fed by a relatively small amount of food, twenty barley loaves and a knapsack of grain. God is clearly with Elisha and his work.

Those who are familiar with the Bible will find a connection between this miracle and Jesus feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) and the four thousand (Matthew 15:32-38). Albert Barnes makes this connection writing, “This miracle was a faint foreshadowing of our Lord’s for more marvelous feeding of thousands with even scantier materials. The resemblance is not only in the broad facts, but in various minute particulars, such as the distribution through the hands of others; the material bread; the surprised question of the servant; and the evidence of superfluity in the fragments that were left. As Elijah was a type of the Baptist, so Elisha was in many respects a type of our Blessed Lord. In his peaceful, non-ascetic life, in his mild and gentle character, in his constant circuits, in his many miracles of mercy, in the healing virtue which abode in his bodily frame (13:21), he resembled more than any other prophet, the Messiah…” (Albert Barnes, Barnes Notes, Vol. 2, pp. 236-237).

Lessons to Learn

1. God’s endorsement is evident.

God was with Elisha and his ministry (cf. 2 Kings 2:14; 2:19-22; 4:1-7; 4:32-35; 4:38-41; 4:42-44; 5:9-15; 6:18, 20; 7:1, 18; 8:7-13). God was with Jesus’ ministry (John 3:2). The primary purpose of miracles was to confirm the message to be from God (Exodus 4:1-5; Joshua 3:7-8; cf. Exodus 14; 1 Kings 17:24; John 3:2; Hebrews 2:1-4, Et al.).

2. God is merciful.

Elisha was involved in miracles which provided food for those in need (2 Kings 4:1-7; 4:42-44). Jesus also fed those in need (Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-28). We are told that Jesus was moved with compassion (Matthew 14:14; 15:32). We too should be merciful and compassionate (cf. Luke 10:36-37; Galatians 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Titus 3:14).

3. God is able to do much with little.

It is possible for someone to think that the little talent or resources that he possesses cannot make much of a difference. However, God can do great things with what appears to be little. He fed many with little. He carried the Gospel into all of the world using the apostles and a small beginning of early believers. Bring what you have to Him. Put it in His service.

4. Jesus did more than Elisha.

Elisha fed about a hundred people with twenty barley loaves (2 Kings 4:42-44). Jesus fed five thousand with five barley loaves and two small fish. In Elisha’s day there were leftovers (2 Kings 4:43-44). In Jesus day there were twelve baskets of leftovers (John 6:13).

We see this pattern when Jesus is compared to other prophets. The miracle of manna in Moses’ day fed more people, but Jesus offers something better. He said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst”(John 6:35); “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever …” (John 6:49-51).