Death in the Pot
Categories: Bible Study Lessons“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 boil 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 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).
There are many valuable lessons to be learned from this biblical events – let us consider a few.
As there was a famine in the land during the days of Elisha, so is there a famine of the word of God in our day. Amos writes, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor athirst for water, but of hearing the words of Jehovah. 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 Jehovah, and shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12). Friends, such seems to describe our day as well. In many places the word of God is not found. Sadly, even in the Lord’s church (at least in many places) little of the word of God is found. Many of our pulpits are preaching more “philosophy” then they are the word of God – that’s a spiritual dearth! Can you hear the prophet’s cry, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Will you heed the prophet’s cry? Philosophy will not stop the spiritual famine in the church – this can be accomplished only by the word of God. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11).
The world, too, is starving without the gospel message. We need to provide the “bread of life” that the world need not hunger or thirst spiritually (John 6:35). Friends, do you care enough for your family, your friends, and your neighbor down the road to help them in their spiritual dearth? Will you not be involved in teaching to help stop this terrible spiritual famine?
But, let us beware lest we be as the servant of 2 Kings 4 and gather wild gourds and poison the pot. Many in our day think they are being fed good spiritual food – but in many places, “there is death in the pot!” There is “death in the pot” because false doctrine is being taught. It is the pure word of God that saves – not the doctrines of men. False doctrine is deadly whether it be a little or a lot. This is why Paul warned that “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (1 Corinthians5:6). In rat poison, over 99% of the ingredients are good, but it is the other 1% that kills the rat. Friends, spiritually speaking, this is why we need to be concerned that we are true to the teaching of the Bible in every point.
But, consider this about the servant that gathered the poison gourds – he was sincere in what he did but still he poisoned his fellows. The servant “thought” he was doing the right thing, but he was fatally wrong. Many today are sincere in what they believe – but they are sincerely wrong. This is why it is so important that we “Try [or, examine] your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate” (2 Corinthians 13:5). What we think or what we feel in our hearts is not the test of truth – it is strictly what the Bible says.
We also need to be careful because just as the gourd looked good, and yet, was poisoned, so error can go around disguised as truth. Do you remember the warning of Jesus? – “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Things may not always be as they appear. We must heed the word of John, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
Friends, if there is “death in the pot,” then let us use the “meal” of God’s word to remove the poison. Add the “meal” to the pot and “pour it out for the people” and you will find “no harm in the pot”
Be careful lest there be death in the pot!