Another great story comes from 2 Kings 4:43-44. Just prior to these verses, the narrative says that the prophet Elisha was meeting with a company of prophets. Must have been a prophets conference. Apparently meals were included in this conference because Elisha was called upon in verse 41 to correct the ingredients in the stew they were having for one of the meals.
In verse 42, the narrative says that twenty loaves of barley bread, along with some heads of new grain were donated for one of the meals. His servant asked, however, "How can I set this before a hundred men?". (apparently the meat & cheese for sandwiches was not donated) Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says: 'They will eat and have some left over.'" The narrative ends this story by saying the they ate and had some left over.
And you thought that Jesus was the first one who fed people without there being sufficient food when the meal started... Here is a wonderful response to a need, and one that didn't require anyone to panic, or try to "fix" the situation. While I realize that this was Elisha, one of the greatest men in the Old Testament, we're talking about here, I don't think this story is here just for us to read and think about how great Elisha was. I believe that it is another reminder that God can provide in ways that do not even occur to us. You may be in the middle of a seemingly unsolvable problem. You have exhausted yourself thinking about a way to "fix" it. You've even helped God along in the process by thinking of ways He could solve the problem for you. It's time to rest, and let God be God.
I have a situation like that right now. It even has a time limit attached to it. I am really trying to trust God in this. Any fix that I have come up with will ultimately hurt us, so I have determined I am not going to "fix" this. Oh God, be God in this situation and do the same for readers of this blog that desperately need to trust You today. Help us to stop fixing and start trusting. Amen.
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