GOD LOVES LEFTOVERS
We read about a wonderful provision miracle in the Old Testament. There was a famine in the land, but a man bought the provision of food—a sack of grain and 20 loaves of barley bread made from the first grain harvest, to the prophets. Elisha was there and told his servant to prepare it for everyone.“That won’t be enough for 100 prophets” he said. But Elisha replied, “God has told me that everyone will eat and there will even be some left over!” And that’s exactly what happened. God not only multiplied the food to feed all the prophets but made sure there was plenty left over for the next day!
It was a similar miracle to the feeding of the five thousand plus where there were 12 basketfuls left over!
Do you remember the time when Elijah was completely wiped out? As he lay down to sleep God was watching over him and sent his angel to bake a cake for him on some coals and provide a cruise of water. When the food was ready the angel told Elijah to wake up and eat and drink. He ate God’s wonderful provision and went back to sleep again.
But God didn’t only plan enough for one meal, but two meals. After he had enjoyed another good sleep, the angel woke Elijah and told him to eat again, which he did. The food was so good and so nourishing that he “went in the strength of that meat for forty days” (1 Kings 19: 4-8).
When God provides, He provides in abundance. God is the God of the MORE THAN ENOUGH! The words “left over” is the Hebrew word “yathar” and it means “to exceed, to jut over, to remain and be left, to cause to abound, plenteous, too much.”
It’s the same word that is used when the children of Israel brought too much stuff for the building of the sanctuary. They had to stop them giving. Exodus 36:7 says: “For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and TOO MUCH.”
It is very similar to the Greek word “perisseuo” which is used in the feeding of the five thousand and where there was food left “over and above” what was needed! “Perisseuo” means “to superabound, to be abundant, enough and to spare, exceed, increase, over and above.”
God always loves us to be like Him. He is not stingy. When he makes food, he makes more than enough! There’s plenty for everyone. There are leftovers for the next day. Don’t you love leftovers? They even taste better the next day, don’t they?
But God does not like waste. He made sure that all the food that was left over was gathered and saved (Matthew 14:20). Teach your children to only take what they can eat so they don’t waste food by leaving it on their plates. I don’t belong to the “throw-away” generation.
Then if you have cooked a big potful of food, you are ready for the next day, or for extra people who may arrive on your doorstep.
“Freely ye have received. Freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).
“Love ever gives, forgives, outlives, and while it lives, it gives!
For this is love’s prerogative, to give and give and give!”
Be blessed and I hope you enjoy your leftovers tomorrow!
Nancy Campbell
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