4:42-44 Sacrifice amid Hardship During a time of economic hardship and famine, the unnamed man from Baal-shalishah remained devoted to God. He did not enter into a theological negotiation, arguing that God knew times were hard; he offered the first produce of his harvest. Like this man and the boy with the loaves and fishes (John 6:9-11), we never know when we may become part of a miracle.