2 Kings 4:38-44
...::Introduction::... The account in this passage is an Old Testament anticipation of our Lord’s miracles of the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14:15-21) and of the 4000 (Matthew 15:32-38), and it is a glorious illustration of Philippians 4:19 – of the way in which God provides for the needs of His people. How does He meet their needs?1. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS WORD – Vs 43,44
“For this is what the LORD says”, and “according to the word of the Lord”.
Frequently in the Bible God promises to provide for His children, and not one promise has ever failed or will ever fail. David testified to God’s promise of provision in Psalms 23:1; 34:10; 37:25; Isaiah gave the same assurance to every believer – Isaiah 33:16; our Lord said the same thing in Matthew 6:25-34; and Paul added his testimony in Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 9:8. These are all God’s promises to us assuring us that He always provides for His children according to His word.
2. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE IN ANSWER TO PRAYER
Elisha and the college students prayed to God in their extremity, and because Elisha had prayed he was able to say, “For this is what the LORD says…” (verse 43); so let us notice that although God promises to supply our needs He waits for us to pray that He will do so. Why is this? One reason is to keep us dependent upon Him. Prayer does not make Him more willing to give, but it provides the channel through which He can give. If we find our supplies running short it is so that we may feel our need of Him and be cast upon Him. God always gives to us in answer to prayer – either our own or that of someone else. This is very much illustrated in the lives of Elijah and Elisha.
3. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME
Often, God allows us to come to the end of our trusted resources before He sends His special provision.
God is able to provide for your need at the right moment – as He did for Elisha and his students!
He is always on time – Psalm 46:1-5
4. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE IN A SUITABLE WAY.
The students needed food, so the Lord sent food. What are your needs? - God is able to meet you at the very point of your needs; just trust Him, for He will never fail. Luke 11:11-12.
5. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE FROM AN UNEXPECTED QUARTER – Vs. 42
“A man came from Baal Shalishah…”
We are told nothing about him, which reminds us that God does not always provide for us in the way we expect. We are tempted to say, “So-and-so could help”; but the help comes from ‘Baal Shalishah’! Elijah was fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:4), and sustained by a widow (1 Kings 17:9), which reminds us that God’s resources never run dry. He is never at a loss to know how to supply our need.
6. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE USUALLY THROUGH A HUMAN CHANNEL
The need of the college was supplied through the man from Baal Shalishah. God’s gifts of food and other necessities do not drop from the skies, and if we are in need He sends them through a human channel, through one of His stewards who feels burdened to supply our need in the name of the Lord. The same is true with regard to spiritual gifts. These are usually dispensed through the preaching of the Word or through the living, consecrated testimony of one of God’s children. The Lord Jesus fed five thousand, but He did it through the disciples; on the Day of Pentecost the Lord saved three thousand souls through the preaching of Peter and others; and Paul’s needs were constantly met through the sacrificial giving of the Christians in the early Church. Do we feel the responsibility placed upon us to be ready to be channels through whom God can give to meet the needs of others?
7. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE ON AN ADEQUATE SCALE – Vs. 43, 44
“They will eat and have some left over”; and verse 44 says, “They ate and had some left over.”
He always gives abundantly.
There was plenty left over! It was a miracle, and He will work a miracle for you.
8. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE FOR AN UNSELFISH PURPOSE
The “man from Baal Shalishah” gave food to Elisha, but Elisha shared it with his students.
All God’s giving to us should issue in our sharing with others.
Notice the words in verse 42 – “Give it to the people…”
Jesus said in Matthew 14:16, “…They need not depart; give ye them to eat”
1 John 3:17 says, “But whoso has this world’s goods, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the Love of God in him”
We are to share with others the gifts that God bestows upon us. This is especially true in relation to spiritual gifts. For instance: He has saved us – but are we seeking the salvation of others? He comforts us in our sorrows. Why? 2 Corinthians 1:4.
He lifts our burden, but He says in Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ”
God is no man’s debtor, and as we give to others so He goes on giving to us – Proverbs 11:24; Luke 6:38.
Conclusion
Let me conclude with God’s word in Psalm 23:1.