God’s Work Advances Despite Our Inadequacies

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits.

2 Kings 4:42

A farmer arrived with food for the sons of the prophets. These students are living through a famine, and this farmer says that he has brought “the firstfruits” of his harvest.

The students hope he has a really big farm! But the cart is almost empty. There’s just one sack with only 20 loaves of bread and some grain. It must have been a massive disappointment.

Elisha said to his servant Gehazi, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” And Gehazi said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” Elisha gave the same command again, adding, “for thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and have some left’” (4:42-43). God multiplied the food, and “They ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD” (4:44).

Perhaps you want to be useful to God, but you don’t feel you have much to offer. Remember this farmer. Never underestimate what God can do through your faith and obedience!

You can’t read this story without thinking about the greater miracle to which it points. A large crowd had gathered to listen to Jesus in a desert place. The disciples found a small boy with five loaves and two fish, “but what are they for so many?” (John 6:9).

The loaves and fish were multiplied in the hands of Jesus, and a vast crowd was fed. There were 12 baskets of food left over. God’s work advances despite our obvious inadequacies.

Are you facing an overwhelming task today? You can say with the apostle Paul, “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor 2:16). And you need to hear the answer: “Our sufficiency is from God” (3:5).

Do you feel inadequate for some task that you know God is calling you to? Ask God to multiply your efforts!