Let Go of It

O. T. #831  "Let Go of It"
Sept. 13, 2016
2 Kings 4-Part 4
But Elisha repeated, "Give it to the people so they can eat...   2 King 4:43b

LET IT GLOW

It is so very difficult to let go of it, whatever it may be, when I want to keep it, use it, enjoy it, look at it, for myself. I desire God to use all I have for His glory, yet my hands grip tightly onto things for my use. Anyone with me? It is when I finally open my hands and give it to others that He uses it and multiplies it and blesses me as a result. Elisha let go of it in our reading today. Shall we find out what "it" is?

The 4 short stories in this chapter demonstrate how God used Elisha to perform miracles. We learn of  God's power over death, His provisions of oil, and poisonous soup made edible. Today, we will read, in only 3 verses, of God multiplying bread.

Here in verses 42-44, a man that is unidentified and righteous, bringing his gift of first fruits of his grain harvest as an offering to the Prophet Elisha. Since the priesthood is absent in Israel, the man's respect for Elisha as God's representative is seen here. The gift, offering, was 20 loaves of barley bread and some corn.

Normally, he firstfruits were reserved for God (Lev. 23:30) and the Levitical priests (Num. 18:13). Though the religion in the northern kingdom was apostate, the man who brought the loaves to Elisha was a representative of godly religion in Israel.  (MacArthur)

Are we faithful to God even when others around us are not? When tithing looks impossible on our budget, do we remain faithful?

LET IT GROW

Instead of selfishly keeping the food for himself and his servant , probably during a famine, Elisha instructed that it be given to the group of hungry prophets, which numbered 100, so they could eat. He had to let go of it before the food was multiplied. His servant questioned being able to feed 100 men with only 20 loaves of bread and a few ears of corn.
The Lord said that everyone would eat and there would even be some left over! And it was so.

Does this story remind you of another time when God, through Jesus His Son, multiplied food for the hungry to eat?

A boy's lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish is shared and  fed 5,000 men and unnumbered women and children, with some left over, is found in in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, and Luke 6:1-15.

Then7 loaves of bread and some fish fed 4,000 men plus some women and children Matthew 15:29-39 and Mark 8:1-10.

Life Application Study Bible leads us to consider:

We can limit what God does in us by assuming what is and is not possible. Is there some impossible task that you believe God wants you to do? Don't let your estimate of what can't be done keep you from taking on the task. God can do the miraculous; trust Him to provide the resources.

LET IT GO
                     and Let God...