2 Kings 4:43, commentary and pictures

This belongs to Elisha's ministry of miracles that brought healing and rejoicing, and its setting was a time of famine. A man from Baal-shalisha brought firstfruits of twenty loaves of barley and corn, and Elisha directed his servant to set this small supply before one hundred hungry sons of the prophets. The servant questioned and doubted whether so little could feed a hundred men, but Elisha repeated the command to give the people food to eat because thus saith the Lord, they shall eat and shall leave thereof.

God's power multiplied the loaves and corn in the hands of the sons of the prophets, so the people ate and food remained, confirming the word of the Lord. Christ Himself was presiding over the event and working the miracle, as He later did in feeding the five thousand. This was Christ's compassionate condescension to satisfy hunger, showing that God mercifully supplies human need again and again, though not always in so marked and visible a way. He even moves men not united with His people in truth to favor them as men of opportunity, as with the man from Baal-shalisha who brought the firstfruits, and His provision can exceed what human estimates judge sufficient.

The verse teaches obedience without questioning the reasonableness of the command, the probable result, or the apparent adequacy of visible resources. People are to do their part at God's bidding, for a supply that seems far short of need and is insufficient in human hands becomes more than enough in the Lord's hands. God can thus make a meager supply sufficient and meet His people's needs. The account stands as an example of firstfruits given to God and of God's blessing on willing human giving.