DEATH IN THE POT

I like to cook and I like to experiment as well at cooking. For example I like to make hearty Vegetable Soup. I also call it ‘Kitchen Sink Soup’ because it has everything in it. After putting the onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, celery, cabbage, squash and such, the soup is finally done. It is usually pretty tasty.

Some times when I make stuff as soon as I take a bite or two to sample it I cry out, “There is death in the pot.” That means it was not very good. The line comes from 2 Kings 4 when Elisha asked his servant to “put on the large pot and boil stew” (v.38). The text says, “Then one went out into the field to gather mallow (herbs), and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds; and he came and sliced them into the pot of stew, because they did not know what they were. So they poured it out for the men to eat. But as they were eating the stew, they cried out and said, “You man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they were unable to eat. Then he said, “Bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot, and said, “Pour it out for the people that they may eat.” Then there was nothing harmful in the pot.” (Vs. 39-41)

It must be helpful to have an Elisha present when one cooks so everybody doesn’t get sick or die when they taste some of this stuff. I’m headed over to the other side of the pond to have some Cuban Coffee, a big bowl of Kitchen Sink Soup and some Golden Bread. Maybe Roz will taste it first. She can do about anything Elisha did.

“When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.” (Matthew 8:14-15) I think the mother-in-law may have had some Gourd Soup.

“If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’” Jesus