Every disciple of God knows that God Most High is eternal, and that His Word is likewise. As Psalm 119 declares, “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations.” It is because God and His Word is eternal that we can expect Him to be who He says He is forever. Moreover, God’s kingdom and ways do not ebb and flow but grow and multiply, for the Word also says, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” Therefore, what God’s Word says about God and His ways in the past, we should expect to see echoed in the future, even in an exaggerated way. This is exactly what we see happening in the New Testament.
In 2Kings chapter 4 we read of the miracle of Elisha feeding a hundred men with only twenty loaves of bread and a few grains of barley. For Elisha had predicted, “… this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” So it came to be, “Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.” It cannot be overlooked that what Elisha did builds on what Elijha had done in providing for the widow and her son in 1Kings 17 with the unending jar of flour and jug of oil. Elijha fed a small family, Elisha feeds a small army. Indeed, Elisha does at least twice as many miracles as Elijha.
But then along comes Jesus. As Elisha overshadowed Elijha in works, so Jesus overshadows both. In Matthew 14 we read of Jesus telling His disciples to feed the large crowd in the wilderness; “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”
It is an astonishing miracle. Yet even feeding five thousand with more than enough from only a few loaves of bread and two fish pales in comparison to feeding a number of people too great to count with every good and wonderful food they could wish for. As Isaiah prophesied, “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.” So it will yet come to pass, as John saw in his vision, “Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” A wedding supper is not just a meal. It is a huge feast, usually over multiple days. In that day God will provide for us forever, for His Word says, “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.”
This is our anticipation. This is our blessed hope!
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
King David (from Ps 36:7-8)
APPLICATION: Worship
Praise God for His abundant and everlasting provision!