Elisha and the Poisonous Food: God protects His children

Elisha and the Poisonous Food Welcome to the Computer Presentation Please Enter Your Name(s) OK STMARYCOMPUTERCENTER, EASTBRUNSWICK, NJ, Sunday School Computer Program© 2011

Memory Verse “And if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them” (Mark 16:18)

Elisha The Prophet Elisha was entertaining the children of the prophets. Elisha told the children stories and they listened to his teachings. The children asked him questions and benefited from his knowledge.

The Famine There was a famine in the land in those days. Rain did not fall and the land became dry and plants died. There was not enough food to feed the people. Elisha was a holy man and knew that the Lord had said, “I will not neglect you”.

Elisha Feeds the Children Elisha thought that the children must be hungry and invited them to eat dinner with him. He asked his servant Gehazi to put a pot on the fire and make some stew. But Gehazi was a disobedient and lazy servant and did not go to the field because the field was far away. The lazy servant picked some wild berries that were nearby and filled his lap with them.

The Servant Prepares the Stew There was no one watching Gehazi as he sliced the fruit into the stew. The food that the servant made was bitter and poisonous. It made the stomach ache and caused vomiting. The people tasted the food and would not eat it. The people said to Elisha “O man of God, there is death in the pot”.

Elisha Prays on the Food Elisha did not fear, because he had his trust in the Lord. This is the same as when God says: “And if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them.” ~Mark 16:18 Elisha asked one of his servants to bring him some flour and to place it in the pot. The Prophet asked the people to eat. The people found no harm in the pot. They glorified the Lord for this miracle. So, what the Lord says is always true: “And when they drink any deadly thing, it will by no means hurt them.”

Meaning of the Miracle Offering of meals represent the offering of the body of Christ. The stew, like sin, is bitter. When flour was mixed to the stew, it tasted good. Flour represents the incarnation of Christ. A person who wears the incarnation of Christ will attain eternal salvation.

Conclusions & Applications God does not make a miraculous deed unless it is necessary. Miracles should always glorify God not human beings. The miracles happened to protect the faithful prophets of the Lord from any harm. Any miracle that does not glorify the name of God and to the benefit of people is not a true miracle. Pray so that the Lord may send His blessings and bless the food offered to you, and make the sign of the cross over your food.

Conclusions & Applications Learn a lesson from Gehazi: Gehazi tried to be lazy to avoid work. Because of this, he and everyone around him were about to die! We must learn to avoid laziness, in school, at home, and with our promises. But most importantly, we must learn to never be lazy when it comes to our spiritual lives.

Memory Verse “And if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them” (Mark 16:18)

Quiz STMARYCOMPUTERCENTER, EASTBRUNSWICK, NJ, Sunday School Computer Program© 2011

Q1- Who was Elisha? Next

Q2- What was Elisha doing with the children in the beginning of the story? Next

Q3- Why did the servant pick poisonous fruits? Next

Q4- What did Elisha ask his servants to put on the stew? Next

Q5- Why was this event a true miracle? Next

STMARYCOMPUTERCENTER, EASTBRUNSWICK, NJ, Sunday School Computer Program© 2011

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