God’s abundant provision is sufficient for every need.
Elisha the prophet ministered during the ninth century BC, serving as the successor to Elijah in the northern kingdom of Israel. In the midst of a time marked by spiritual decline and foreign threats, Elisha displayed God’s sovereignty through various miracles, demonstrating that divine power could sustain and protect the faithful. Scripture tells us that “Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, ‘Give them to the people that they may eat.’” (2 Kings 4:42). Baal-shalishah was a region in the hill country of Ephraim, possibly near the route traveled by those bringing offerings to the priests in obedience to Mosaic law. By coming from this location, the unnamed man illustrated his faithfulness to the LORD in offering the first fruits to His prophet.
In this verse, Elisha is referred to as “the man of God,” a title conferred upon prophets who spoke God’s truth and represented Him before Israel. The offering of “twenty loaves of barley” and “fresh ears of grain” points to a modest provision, yet it was prized as the earliest produce of the harvest. When Elisha instructs his servant to “Give them to the people” to eat, he foreshadows God’s abundance in times of need. Much like the later miracle of Jesus feeding multitudes with a small quantity of bread (John 6:9-13), Elisha trusted that the LORD would multiply the offering so that everyone could be satisfied.
The significance of this passage is that God’s provision transcends human limitations. The man who came from Baal-shalishah stepped out in obedience by honoring the LORD with the first fruits of his harvest, and in turn God demonstrated His readiness to bless beyond what was offered. This teaches that when believers give their best to the LORD in faith, even seemingly small resources can become a source of miraculous blessing to others. It also reminds us that genuine worship of God includes caring for the community, sharing both physical and spiritual nourishment in times of plenty and in times of need.
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2 Kings 4:42 meaning
Elisha the prophet ministered during the ninth century BC, serving as the successor to Elijah in the northern kingdom of Israel. In the midst of a time marked by spiritual decline and foreign threats, Elisha displayed God’s sovereignty through various miracles, demonstrating that divine power could sustain and protect the faithful. Scripture tells us that “Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, ‘Give them to the people that they may eat.’” (2 Kings 4:42). Baal-shalishah was a region in the hill country of Ephraim, possibly near the route traveled by those bringing offerings to the priests in obedience to Mosaic law. By coming from this location, the unnamed man illustrated his faithfulness to the LORD in offering the first fruits to His prophet.
In this verse, Elisha is referred to as “the man of God,” a title conferred upon prophets who spoke God’s truth and represented Him before Israel. The offering of “twenty loaves of barley” and “fresh ears of grain” points to a modest provision, yet it was prized as the earliest produce of the harvest. When Elisha instructs his servant to “Give them to the people” to eat, he foreshadows God’s abundance in times of need. Much like the later miracle of Jesus feeding multitudes with a small quantity of bread (John 6:9-13), Elisha trusted that the LORD would multiply the offering so that everyone could be satisfied.
The significance of this passage is that God’s provision transcends human limitations. The man who came from Baal-shalishah stepped out in obedience by honoring the LORD with the first fruits of his harvest, and in turn God demonstrated His readiness to bless beyond what was offered. This teaches that when believers give their best to the LORD in faith, even seemingly small resources can become a source of miraculous blessing to others. It also reminds us that genuine worship of God includes caring for the community, sharing both physical and spiritual nourishment in times of plenty and in times of need.