Daily Devotional for Wednesday, April 23

Elisha and the Prophets

“And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord,” 2 Kings 4:42-44.

In our key verses today, we witness a remarkable demonstration of God’s provision through the prophet Elisha. During a time of famine, Elisha returned to Gilgal where a group of prophets resided. These prophets faced a dire situation with limited food resources, but Elisha, filled with God’s power and compassion, intervened.      

Elisha instructed his servant to prepare a large pot and cook a stew for the prophets. As the stew was being prepared, one of the prophets unknowingly gathered wild gourds and added them to the pot. When the stew was served, it was poisonous, causing distress among the prophets. Upon realizing the danger, Elisha calmly instructed his servant to add flour to the pot. Miraculously, the addition of flour neutralized the poison, making the stew safe to eat. Elisha then directed his servant to serve the stew to the gathered prophets, assuring them that there would be more than enough for everyone.

Through this miraculous provision, Elisha not only saved the prophets from harm but also demonstrated God’s faithfulness and care for His people even in the midst of scarcity. This event serves as a powerful reminder that God is able to transform dire situations into opportunities for His provision and blessing.

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT

Even when resources seem scarce and dangers loom, God is able to provide abundantly beyond what we can imagine. Let us trust in His provision, knowing that He is faithful to sustain us in every circumstance.

Steven Ridings