Multiplying Bread

by TOMS, A.F. | Category: In The Time Of Elisha The Prophet | Mar 2002

There was a famine in the land when Elisha came to Gilgal to meet the sons of the prophets. But there was a man from Baal Shalisha who had done some reaping despite the famine and he brought to Elisha the firstfruits of his harvest, twenty barley loaves and some newly ripened grain. Normally he would have taken it to God's house, but the ten tribes were not encouraged to go to Jerusalem, so he did the next best thing and brought it to God's prophet. Elisha told his servant to use it to feed the people. There were a hundred men in the place and the servant protested at the impossibility of feeding so many with so little. But he had not reckoned on the power of God, of course. Elisha simply repeated the instruction, '"Give it to the people, that they may eat,"' and then he added, '"for thus says the LORD: 'They shall eat and have some left over.'"' It was a word from God and no word of His is void of power (1 Kin.4:42-44).

God multiplied the loaves according to His promise, they were all fed and there was some left over. And so there was on the day the Lord Jesus fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes; and also when four thousand were fed with seven loaves and a few fishes. In both cases, it was a question of hungry multitudes and unbelieving disciples. '"Send the multitudes away,"' the disciples said. '"They do not need to go away,"' the Master replied. '"You give them something to eat."' And when they brought their few loaves and fishes and placed them in the Master's hands, He multiplied them to satisfy the need of every hungry person there. Not one of them went away unsatisfied. And He did it through the disciples. That precious and important point we must notice carefully (Mat.14:15-21). It has been said so often before, but we must say it again, as long as there are spiritually hungry multitudes around us, as long as men and women, boys and girls who touch our lives are dying without having eaten of the bread of life. The food passed from His hands to the disciples' hands, so it actually came true, they did give them to eat.

They gathered up baskets full of broken pieces when the meal was over. There was enough and to spare. There always is in our heavenly Father's bountiful supply, but how shall His rich supply reach the hungry hearts of those around us unless we learn this vital lesson and are willing to put our little into His almighty hands? Put it another way. 'For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him ... How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?' (Rom.10:12-14). How indeed! How shall they hear unless we are willing for it to be through our lips? Shall we not have a burden to carry to them the glorious message of the One who satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good?

'He blessed and broke and gave.' That is what the gospel record says. With His blessing, there is no limit to what the Lord can do with the little we are willing to put into His hands.

TOMS, A.F. | Mar 2002
In The Time Of Elisha The Prophet