2 Kings 4:38-44
"38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 40 And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. 41 He said, “Then bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Pour some out for the men, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.
42 A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” 43 But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” 44 So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord."
Here are two miracles which complete a chapter rich in the grace of God, a chapter which serves to illustrate how unlimited and unfettered the power of God is, even in time of national apostacy, when hearts turn to him in simple, unfeigned faith. God was a stranger in the land, but He was no stranger to those who sought His face in the quiet, unknown places where godliness of life was still a reality. The two miracles relate the divine provision of food in time of dearth and famine, the one safeguarding existing food from accidental contamination, the other multiplying it to meet the many claims upon it. Not only are they reminiscent of our Lord's miracles, but like them they illustrate spiritual truths of the highest importance. In the one, God was not prepared to allow the supply of food to be harmed by accident or misfortune or even carelessness on someone's part, and we may be sure that when He has instituted a true ministry of the Word in a time of general dearth, He is not likely to allow its existence to be jeopardised by the mistakes that are sometimes made in the course of it, not even by very grave and serious mistakes. When these are made, faith and the use of proper means can neutralise their evil effects. There is nothing impossible to faith. In the other, God multiplied the little into much and He has surprising and glorious ways of making a ministry designed perhaps for a few available to large numbers. To wait patiently for His working in this is one of the great experiences of the spiritual life. The multiplying of the Word is a miracle not by any means confined to the Acts of the Apostles!