Jesus, hidden in the flour of goodness, restoration and healing

And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, … as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, there  is  death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. So he said, “Then bring some flour.” And he put it into the pot, and said, “Serve it to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot. (2 Kings 4:38-41, NKJV)

Elisha is a type of Jesus as he performed his miracles. There is a difference between Elisha and Jesus in the size and manner in which the miracles were done. Elisha had to do them through the power of God, but Jesus was the power of God. The size of Elisha’s miracles was small comparison to the miracles Jesus performed, for example when the people were fed, Elisha fed a few hundred with leftovers but Jesus fed thousands and still had leftovers (Matthew 14).

In 2 King 4, there are many shadows of Jesus, for example in each of the miracles performed you will find Him, (see Day 21: Jesus, hidden in the miracles ). Today we will look at another shadow of Jesus and expose it one piece at a time as we work through these few verses quoted above.

The place Elisha returned to

Elisha returned to Gilgal. Gilgal referred to a place of blessings and Gilgal means “rolling away your shame”. When Jesus hung and sacrificed His life for you on the cross, He rolled away your shame and clothed you with His righteousness so you never have to be shameful again but can walk in His blessings forevermore.

The world’s way is that if something is bad or harmful, it should be thrown away and removed, but with Jesus it is different. If we have a harmful situation, instead of removing it, He wants us to add Him to our mix. Let Him sort it out for us; let Him turn it around for us. This will be aligned with His promise to believers that He will work all things for the good for those who love Him and were called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

The ingredient Elisha used

 Elisha asked that they bring flour. The reference to flour is significant. In Leviticus 2 where read about the grain (flour) offering that was an offering that brought forth life as a smoothing aroma to the Lord. If we look at grain in its finest form, which is flour, there is nothing coarse or uneven about it. Exactly like Jesus. He is always the same, when He is firm, He does not hurt someone or cause harm. When Jesus is placed into something, it is purified and cleansed from all its harm. He stepped into the cauldron of death at the cross and only Jesus survived. He defeated the stung of death forever.

Allow Jesus into everything as He purifies whatever He is involved in. He does not only take away the harm, but also bring healing and life.

Maretha Retief

Illustration by Jeanne de Villiers