2 Kings 4:38-41

2 Kings 4:38-41

[38] And Elisha  came again  to Gilgal:  and there was a dearth  in the land;  and the sons  of the prophets  were sitting  before  him: and he said  unto his servant,  Set  on the great  pot,  and seethe  pottage  for the sons  of the prophets.  [39] And one  went out  into the field  to gather  herbs,  and found  a wild  vine,  and gathered  thereof wild  gourds  his lap  full,  and came  and shred  them into the pot  of pottage:  for they knew  [40] So they poured out  to eat.  of the pottage,  that they cried out,  and said,  O thou man  of God,  there is death  in the pot.  And they could  not eat  [41] But he said,  Then bring  meal.  And he cast  it into the pot;  and he said,  Pour out  for the people,  that they may eat.  And there was no harm  in the pot. 

What does 2 Kings 4:38-41 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

God again disciplined Israel by withholding fertility from the land and producing a famine ( 2 Kings 4:38; cf1Kings17). The people were not only hungry for bread but also for what would truly satisfy their spiritual hunger, namely, the Word of God. The wild gourds were similar to Baalism. They looked attractive but proved disgusting and deadly when consumed. Scripture compares meal or bread to the Word of God because it is what satisfies people"s most basic needs (cf. Deuteronomy 8:3).
In Elisha"s day, the people of Israel had turned from God and His Law. This had resulted in a spiritual famine. The people were hungry spiritually and, to satisfy their need, had swallowed Baalism. It looked harmless enough, but it proved fatal. God"s prophets helped counteract the deadly effects of Baalism by making the Word of God available to the people. People need the Word of God ( Matthew 4:4).
"This event shows the power to make the harmful innocuous (cf. Luke 10:19) as well as God"s care and provision for his own." [1]