Death in the Pot

The Story

There was a famine in the land, and Elisha was meeting with a group of young prophets in training at Gilgal. Food was scarce, so Elisha told his servant, “Put the big pot on the fire and make some stew for these men.”

One of the men went out into the fields to gather herbs. He found a wild vine, picked a lap full of gourds, and sliced them into the stew without knowing what they were. It was an honest mistake by someone trying to help.

But when the men began to eat, they cried out, “O thou man of God, there is death in the pot!” The gourds were poisonous. They couldn’t eat it.

Elisha didn’t panic, and he didn’t blame anyone. He simply said, “Bring some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Serve it to the people.” They ate, and there was nothing harmful in the pot.

Reflection