So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.
During a dearth a small offering of twenty barley loaves with corn, or ears of grain, was set before one hundred hungry men, the sons of the prophets, and they ate and food was left over just as the Lord had said. The setting belongs with the healing of the poisoned stew. The food had been brought as firstfruits by a man from Baal-shalisha. His giving is an example of the generosity God moves people to show, even through men not united in the truth whom He uses as men of opportunity to favor His people.
The eating with food to spare was a miracle displaying God's power to provide for His people through a human agent acting at His command. Jesus Himself presided over it as their benefactor, in condescending mercy and compassionate power to satisfy hunger and relieve need. What was far too little by human estimate became more than enough in the Lord's hands. God multiplied the scanty supply of bread and corn and made it sufficient for many, with some left over.
The outcome fulfilled the word of the Lord exactly as promised. Acting on God's word in trust and obedience makes limited resources sufficient. The verse therefore teaches obedience in faith without stopping to question the reasonableness of God's command. There is to be no stopping to question whether the available supply and the probable result seem sufficient, rather than doubting because resources appear inadequate.
Christ has repeatedly worked with the same compassion to supply human need since then, though not always in so marked and visible a way. There is need for clearer spiritual discernment to recognize and study this merciful dealing. The account encourages believers to bring their firstfruits to God in willing giving, trusting that such generosity will bring rich blessings.
During a dearth a small offering of twenty barley loaves with corn, or ears of grain, was set before one hundred hungry men, the sons of the prophets, and they ate and food was left over just as the Lord had said. The setting belongs with the healing of the poisoned stew. The food had been brought as firstfruits by a man from Baal-shalisha. His giving is an example of the generosity God moves people to show, even through men not united in the truth whom He uses as men of opportunity to favor His people.
The eating with food to spare was a miracle displaying God's power to provide for His people through a human agent acting at His command. Jesus Himself presided over it as their benefactor, in condescending mercy and compassionate power to satisfy hunger and relieve need. What was far too little by human estimate became more than enough in the Lord's hands. God multiplied the scanty supply of bread and corn and made it sufficient for many, with some left over.
The outcome fulfilled the word of the Lord exactly as promised. Acting on God's word in trust and obedience makes limited resources sufficient. The verse therefore teaches obedience in faith without stopping to question the reasonableness of God's command. There is to be no stopping to question whether the available supply and the probable result seem sufficient, rather than doubting because resources appear inadequate.
Christ has repeatedly worked with the same compassion to supply human need since then, though not always in so marked and visible a way. There is need for clearer spiritual discernment to recognize and study this merciful dealing. The account encourages believers to bring their firstfruits to God in willing giving, trusting that such generosity will bring rich blessings.