The Prophet ElishaSýnishorn

God Uses the Little We Can Bring

“A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, ‘Give to the men, that they may eat.’” (2 Kings 4:42)

We read about a man bringing “bread of the first fruits.” God had stipulated that the Israelites should offer Him some bread from their first harvest every year. This was a way to thank God for blessing the growth of the grain — which was especially meaningful in this case since there had been a famine! This man fulfilled his duty by bringing the bread to God’s prophet.

Elisha’s servant was stunned when told to give it to the prophets to eat. After all, there were a hundred of them! But Elisha told him in God’s name that these twenty loaves of barley would be more than enough. And indeed, the story concludes with the remark that “they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord” (2 Kings 4:44).

Jesus Christ did something similar on an even larger scale to a hungry crowd. He took the little food there was (five barley loaves and two fish) and distributed it to about five thousand men. When they had all eaten their fill, there were twelve baskets full of leftovers.

God is able to take the little that we can contribute and turn it into an abundant blessing.

What can you contribute to relieve the needs of others — even if it’s just a little?