THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

January 13, 2021

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

I love how the Bible is so consistent all the way through. From beginning to end we read examples of the faithfulness of the Lord. We read about the miraculously and see time and time again that there is absolutely nothing that is too difficult for God. We can see the love, grace and mercy that our Father has for mankind. It's not just words that say those things, but stories to back it up.

I have many favorite stories and people in the Bible, but two of my favorites are Elijah and Elisha. I recently finished reading I Kings and have started on II Kings. I ran across a story in chapter four that I know I have read in the past, because I have read these books and about these men numerous times. But this time, this story really caught my attention and it was as if I were reading it for the very first time.

Elijah was caught away to heaven in I Kings, and Elisha is his predecessor carrying on his ministry.

(II Kings 4:38-44) Elisha had been in Shunem and then made his way to Gilgal; which when I looked it up is close to 57 miles. In Joshua 4:19 we see that Gilgal is the location on the eastern border of Jericho, where the Israelites encamped immediately after crossing the Jordan River to enter into the promised land. It was here that they erected twelve stones as a memorial to walking across the river on dry land.

At the time when Elisha entered Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. He gathered there with 100 men, who were called the sons of the prophets. It seems as if they had very little, if anything at all, to eat.

A man came from Baal-shalishah and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits -- 20 loaves of barley bread and fresh ears of corn in his sack. Elisha said, "Give them to the people that they may eat."

His attendant said, "What? Will I set this before a hundred men?'

Elisha said, "Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, 'They will eat and will have leftovers.'" So the attendant set it before those 100 men, and they eat and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.

While reading that story, my mind immediately went to Jesus feeding the hungry multitude. (Matthew 14:13-21)

Jesus had just been told that John the Baptist had just been beheaded. When He heard the news, He privately went away, by boat, to an isolated place. But the crowds found out where He was and followed Him on foot from the towns. As soon as Jesus came ashore, He was met by a large crowd. He felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

Evening came and the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "This place is isolated, and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

Jesus' reply to them was, "They don't need to leave -- you give them something to eat."

Their answer was, "We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish." Jesus asked that they bring that little dab of food to Him.

He ordered the crowd to sit down on the grass, then took those five loaves and two fish, blessed them, then broke them into pieces. Jesus then gave those broken pieces of food to His disciples, and they began dispersing them to the crowd of people.

Verses 20-21 says, "They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces left over. Now those eating were about five thousand men, besides women and children."

We have two very different stories; yet both have similarities. In both, there were people who were hungry with nothing to eat; one due to famine and the other due to traveling to an isolated area away from villages. In both, there was a bit of food, but not nearly enough to feed the number of individuals needing nourishment. In both instances, God miraculously multiplied the food in order to satisfy the hunger of every single person. No one went without or left hungry. They all had enough food to fill their bellies. In both stories, there was food left over after everyone had finished eating.

It is often easy to think, "But the bigger miracle was when Jesus broke the bread and fish to feed over 5,000 people. There was less food and more people who needed to eat." But really was it? Was that more difficult for God to do than when He multiplied the food for the 100 prophets?

I believe that God saw the need, then miraculously provided.

In 1 Kings chapter 18 we read of another miracle of God's provision. There was a severe famine in Samaria. Elijah saw a widow woman gathering sticks and asked her to bring him a little water in a jar so that he could drink it. As she was leaving to go fetch it, he called after her and asked for a morsel of bread to eat, too. She replied that she had nothing baked. In fact, all she had was a handful of flour in the jar and a little oil in the jug. In fact, she was gathering the sticks so that she can make a last meal for her and her son.

Elijah told her, "Fear not! Go and do as you said, but first make me a little cake from what you have. Bring it to me and then afterwards, make some for you and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be exhausted nor shall the jug of oil be empty until the day the Lord sends rain on the land."

The widow did according to what Elijah asked, and she and he, and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour never ran out, nor did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah.

Was this woman's need greater or more than that of the others that I mentioned? They all were hungry and needed nourishment. Actually, it seems as if those who were facing famine had a greater need than those who had walked to an isolated place and hadn't brought anything to eat with them. I mean, they could walk to the nearest village and buy food. Those who were living during the times of famine had nothing to eat and no way of getting more food. Yet the Father didn't see one need as being greater or less than the other. He loves His children and takes care of them!

In fact, in Philippians 4:19 we are told that, "My God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

I have heard people who feel guilty asking God for something for themselves. Their reasoning is, "There are a lot of people who are worse off than me and have bigger issues, so I need to just suck it up and deal with it."

No where in God's Word does it say that He categorizes your need according to importance, then He ignores those that He feels are unworthy. God loves all His children and wants us to bring all of our needs to Him -- ALL of them!

God sent Elijah to the widow who thought she was making the last meal for her and her son, before dying. He kept flour in her jar and oil in her jug until the famine ended. He cared about the hunger of this widow and her son; and used them to feed His prophet, Elijah. Keeping an unlimited supply of flour and oil was not too difficult for her.

Seeing the hunger of the 100 prophets was important to God. He sent a man to Elisha to bring some loaves of bread and corn; but it wasn't enough for everyone to have their fill. Elisha didn't say that everyone could just have a couple bites so that there would be enough. No, he told his assistant to set the food before the men so that they could eat. As they began to eat, the food kept multiplying so that they could all have their bellies filled; with food left over.

Jesus seeing the hunger of over 5,000 people filled Him with compassion. He blessed those 5 loaves and 2 fish, and started breaking them and having His disciples pass it out. As the food was broken, it just kept multiplying and never ran out -- until everyone had their fill; then there were 12 baskets of food left over.

I want to encourage you today to believe God for those things that may seem impossible. Don't feel as if your need is insignificant or compare it to what someone else may be going through. Just because someone else may be going through more than you, doesn't make you hurt less or need God to intervene and meet that need. Trust God and have faith to believe that He can provide and take care of you!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Our pastor quoted Matthew 5:39~42 last Sunday. Jesus was teaching a crowd, "Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."

The widow who fed Elijah lived this out long before Jesus said to. I don't know whether she knew Elijah was a prophet of God, but she willingly gave what she thought was the last of her food. She was blessed and protected from the famine because of her willingness to give.

We don't have a promise that if we give our last bottle of water and bag of peanuts to a beggar that we will receive more to replace it. In fact, we don't have any specific promise at all.

But if we are obedient to Jesus, I have faith we will be rewarded one way or another. It starts by knowing we have done someone good.

ON THE MENEWE:

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

(This is a heartier version of most tortilla soups with more of tomato base, instead of broth.)

Add all ingredients to the crockpot. Chicken is added in raw -- super easy! (No need to thaw, if chicken is frozen.) Cover and cook on low for approximately 8 hours. When almost finished, pull out chicken and shred; then return to crockpot.

Serve with any toppings desired: tortilla chips, sour cream, grated cheese, cilantro, avocado

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear one another's burdens. Other versions word it to carry one another's burdens or share each other's burdens. The last part of the verse says that when we do this, we obey or fulfill the law of Christ.

So how do we do this? One way that I recently heard was to pray for others as if their needs were yours. For example, if you hear that someone has lost a parent, pray for them as if you were the one who lost a parent. If there is someone who is suffering with COVID or another virus or some type of disease, pray for them as if it were you. Pray for them the way you would want them to pray for you.

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

You will never influence the world by trying to be like it. - TobyMac

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org