What is the meaning of 2 Kings 4:44? So he set it before them • Elisha receives twenty barley loaves and fresh grain (2 Kings 4:42). In simple obedience, he places this small gift in front of a hundred hungry prophets. • The act mirrors earlier moments when servants of God present inadequate resources that the Lord then multiplies—see “Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid…’” (1 Kings 17:13-15) and “Jesus then took the loaves” (John 6:11). • Elisha’s confidence comes from God’s promise, not from the size of the offering (2 Kings 4:43). and they ate • The hundred men eat fully, just as the five thousand did centuries later when “they all ate and were satisfied” (Matthew 14:20). • Physical nourishment here underscores God’s care for His faithful remnant during apostasy in Israel (cf. Psalm 34:10). • Eating together also reinforces community life around God’s word—anticipating Acts 2:42-46, where the early church “broke bread” together. and had some left over • The surplus is literal. God not only meets needs; He exceeds them (Ephesians 3:20). • Leftovers recall the widow’s jar of oil that “did not run dry” (1 Kings 17:16) and the twelve baskets gathered after Jesus feeds the multitude (John 6:13). • Abundance testifies that divine provision is not a zero-sum equation; when God gives, He gives generously (2 Corinthians 9:8). according to the word of the LORD • The entire miracle rests on God’s spoken promise in 2 Kings 4:43: “They will eat and have some left.” His word never fails (Joshua 21:45). • “Has the LORD’s arm grown short?” (Numbers 11:23) echoes here; the answer is always no. • Trusting God’s word produces obedience, which unlocks His power—illustrated again in John 2:5: “Do whatever He tells you.” summary Elisha obeys God’s directive, sets minimal provisions before many, watches the men eat their fill, and collects leftovers—all exactly “according to the word of the LORD.” The verse spotlights God’s unfailing ability to meet and exceed human need, invites confident obedience to His word, and foreshadows the even greater provision revealed in Christ. |
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