“And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot” (2 Kings 4:38-41)
In Elisha’s day it was of food, but today there is a famine of the Word of God, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12). In many churches the Scriptures are no longer taught, and if they are referred to, few believe them. Instead of preaching truth many pastors offer a diet of philosophy, humanism and positive confession. No wonder so many people are Biblically illiterate! No wonder there is a spiritual dearth in the land! There is death in the pot and they don’t know it.
God’s people become famished whenever the truth is not taught. Whenever the whole counsel of God is not taught error quickly takes root, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:27-30). Believers are always “destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Philosophy, humanism and the positive gospel have never eradicated spiritual famine, in fact they have been the cause of it. Only by returning to the unadulterated Word of God can this problem be cured, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11).
This world, and unfortunately the church too, is spiritually starving without the Gospel. Christ has given us “the Bread of Life” (John 6:35) to share with our family, friends and neighbours. It is our responsibility to point them to the only source of eternal life.
Elisha’s servants gathered what they thought was edible to nourish the hungry, but they produced a poisonous stew that would have killed everyone off quicker than if they starved to death!
Many think that they are being fed the Word of God, but instead there is “death in the pot.” The poison of false doctrine is cheerfully accepted by the hungry. There may only be a little, but it pollutes everything it touches, “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Corinthians 5:6). If any suggest that there is “death in the pot” they are labelled as heresy hunters, Pharisees and legalists. Ninety-nine percent of rat poison is harmless, but how many would eat it? We cannot congratulate ministers who preach the Gospel mixed with error. False doctrine, no matter how minor, must be removed or else death will remain in the pot. We need to watch what is being put into the pot, for error can easily disguise itself with a cloak of truth, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
Yes, many preachers are sincere, but they are sincerely wrong if they teach error. Elisha’s servant thought he was doing well, but he would have made his friends unwell if Elsha had not intervened. Nevertheless, before we point the finger at others, we need to take a careful look at ourselves first, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Whenever we see “death in the pot” let us add the “meal” of God’s Word, for that alone can remove the poison of error. Preaching and teaching the living truth will do two things: It will destroy spiritual death and it will nourish the famished. When there is “no harm in the pot” then we can “pour it out” for all to enjoy.
The food may look nourishing, but it may still be poisonous. Things are not always as they appear to be. As believers we are obligated to be experts in food safety, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
Page created 17 June 2006