Elisha Feeds One Hundred Men

Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, “Give it to the people, that they may eat.”
But his servant said, “What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?”
He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’ ” So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
[2 Kings 4:42-44 NKJV]

To mark that this is the100th post on this weblog, we are considering the significance of ‘one hundred’ in this passage from 2 Kings 4.

This story is a foretaste of Jesus feeding the five thousand and other miracles of provision. The man comes from Baal Shalisha, which means “thrice great Lord”, bringing Elisha “bread of the first fruits”.

James tells us that of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. [James 1:18 NKJV]. What we are reading in 2 Kings is, I believe, an allusion to a company of believers whom Jesus described as His in John 17.

Here that “firstfruits company of believers” are described as “one hundred men”, who shall eat (be a part of) and have some left over (they will be filled to overflowing) according to the word of God (this is a filling in and by The Holy Spirit). Thus, “one hundred” speaks of those who become a part of God’s promise, His firstfruit harvest who are filled with His spirit.

So, just as Jesus fed thousands with 2 loaves and five fish, Elisha heeded the Lord’s promise to fill one hundred with twenty loaves of barley bread and newly ripened grain. We have that amazing assurance, that promise of His overflowing provision for us in every way, when we believe and follow Him.

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“We Plough The Fields And Scatter” — BBC Songs of Praise

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OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Sunday 12th July 2020
Prayer imparts the power to walk and not faint.

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