42 Now a man came from Baal-shalishah , and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits , twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack . And he said , " Give them to the people that they may eat ." 43 His attendant said , "What , will I set this before a hundred men ?" But he said , "Give them to the people that they may eat , for thus says the Lord , 'They shall eat and have some left over .' " 44 So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over , according to the word of the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:42-44
Commentary on 2 Kings 4:38-44
(Read 2 Kings 4:38-44)
There was a famine of bread, but not of hearing the word of God, for Elisha had the sons of the prophets sitting before him, to hear his wisdom. Elisha made hurtful food to become safe and wholesome. If a mess of pottage be all our dinner, remember that this great prophet had no better for himself and his guests. The table often becomes a snare, and that which should be for our welfare, proves a trap: this is a good reason why we should not feed ourselves without fear. When we are receiving the supports and comforts of life, we must keep up an expectation of death, and a fear of sin. We must acknowledge God's goodness in making our food wholesome and nourishing; I am the Lord that healeth thee. Elisha also made a little food go a great way. Having freely received, he freely gave. God has promised his church, that he will abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy her poor with bread, Psalm 132:15; whom he feeds, he fills; and what he blesses, comes to much. Christ's feeding his hearers was a miracle far beyond this, but both teach us that those who wait upon God in the way of duty, may hope to be supplied by Divine Providence.