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In 2 Kings 4:38–44, we find two seemingly simple miracles. While these events may seem brief, each of Elisha’s miracles gives a distinct and powerful message. The first miracle gives a message of purification. The second miracle gives a message of provision.
The miracle in verse 41 turns a poisonous mush into a nutritious stew. For anyone who is a bad cook, the miracle in verse 41 may lead to envy. If we could simply throw some flour on a terrible dish to make it good, we all could be amazing chefs. But Elisha is much better than a good cook. In the miracle of verse 41, he takes poison and makes it into protein. The transformation in this miracle gives a wonderful illustration of our Lord’s redemptive work. Christ did not come merely to throw some flour in our direction. He came to be the flour Himself. He came to drink the cup of poison. Dr. R.C. Sproul wonderfully described the Savior’s poison in the children’s book The Prince’s Poison Cup:
He knew it would kill him. . . . He put his lips to the edge of the cup, the poison tasted bitter, but he had promised his father he would drink it all. The poison burned his throat, but he continued to swallow it. He finished it all right down to the last sip. When the poison was all gone, the prince bowed his head, closed his eyes, and he died.
Our Savior has made our poisonous sinful nature pure in the sight of our heavenly Father. He took our poison upon Himself, crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). Therefore, all who believe in Him receive a feast, one that is far greater than stew. We receive the very Bread of Life.
The Lord’s provision is given greater emphasis with the second miracle. In 2 Kings 4:42–44, one hundred men are fed by twenty loaves of bread and a knapsack of barley. If we do the math, these men would not have had enough food. None would be full with one-fifth of a loaf of bread and one-hundredth of a knapsack of barley. Therefore, a miracle certainly takes place. The men are full, and they even have leftovers. The Lord supplied the needed provision.
Yet Elisha’s miracle cannot compare with Christ’s miracle in John 6. Rather than feeding a hundred, Christ fed five thousand. Rather than starting with twenty loaves and a knapsack of barley, Christ started with five barley loaves and two small fish. Rather than having some leftovers, Christ had the disciples fill twelve baskets full of bread pieces.
Christ came as One greater than Elijah and greater than Elisha. He did not come to humiliate these prophets or merely to outdo them. He came to fulfill their promises. Christ performed His miracles to show that He is the Bread of Life. All who come to Him will never hunger, and all who believe in Him will never thirst. Do you believe in Him?