Among the remnant who remained faithful to God are these companies of prophets (or sons of the prophet).
• Elisha was mentoring a group of them, in the place where they lived (like a dormitory).
• But the dwelling place was getting too small for the growing number of students. Let’s read 2 Kings 6:1-7.
The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live." And he said, "Go."
3Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?"
"I will," Elisha replied. 4And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. 5As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"
6The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. 7"Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
Elisha was with the company of prophets, presumably at Gilgal (that’s where we left off in 4:38 when the pot of stew was poisoned).
• The group was growing and the place was getting too small for them. They thought of moving to Jordan where they can build a larger place.
• Everyone would play a part to cut down timber and build the new house.
The plan went on well until an incident happened. One of them dropped the iron axe head into the river. And it was a borrowed axe.
• This was significant in those days because iron was a valuable commodity and an iron axe would be very expensive.
• That probably explains why it was borrowed because the student couldn’t afford one.
The axe head slipped off from the handle and fell into the deep waters.
• From his cry, we can sense that it was a foregone conclusion to him.
• He couldn’t retrieve it and he would not be able to return it.
• The man of God stepped in at this point. “Where did it fall?”
• Elisha took a stick and threw it at that spot. The iron axe head floated to the surface.
How did it happen? By the work of God. It’s a miracle of God.
Why this trivial problem is even included in the Scriptures?
• To show us this! That God is concerned also for the little things of life.
• God does not perform miracles for kicks or for fun. He saw a genuine need and a good reason to step in.
I believe as the prophet picked up the axe head, he would be moved. Not just that the axe swam up, but that God would even help him in such a trivial matter.
• That’s exactly how we felt when reading this. It’s so small a matter and almost unnecessary.
• God is concerned about our needs, and even little needs like this. And if it takes a miracle to solve it, God can do it.
God is concerned about BIG THINGS, that we usually have no problem understanding.
• We’ve been reading about the Kings and the Kingdoms, about international politics, foreign relations and national crisis, in the books of Samuel and the Kings.
• God is concerned about the affairs of the nations, no doubt about it. But in the midst of all this, God still cares for the loss of an axe.
We saw a glimpse of this over the past few chapters – God’s concern for a widow without food, a widow in debt, the problem of undrinkable water and a spoilt pot of stew.
• Don’t equate God’s greatness only with BIG things. He showed us that He cares even for our everyday needs and ordinary problems.
• He cares because WE matters to Him.
That probably explains why Jesus says, “The hairs on your head are all numbered.”
• Come to think of it, why would anyone want to number your hair?
• Luke 12:6-7 – Jesus says, “6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
• Isn’t that a little strange? It is because the Lord wants to stress something that eludes us – our Father cares for us.
• It’s an ASSURANCE for us who are often so FAITH-LESS, that God truly cares and He cares to the point of knowing the number of hairs on your head.
The Israelites in exile reading these books would understand the faithfulness of God and His unchanging concern for them.
• When the book of Kings were written (550 BC), both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms have already fallen. (Northern ISRAEL in 722 BC and Southern JUDAH in 586BC)
• For the exiles who might have felt lonely and forgotten, the Word of God assures them otherwise.
• The Lord showed them that He cares not just for their nation as a whole but even for the needs of individuals.
Let me share with you a trivial thing that happened last year. I went to the Polyclinic in April to check on my elbow pain. The doctor said nothing serious.
Since I was there, I mentioned to her about my eye spots. She said it could be floaters but better to go for a check-up at TTSH. So she wrote a note to arrange and said TTSH would text me the appointment date. But the date cannot be re-scheduled, you just take it or leave it.
The date came back (May 9), just 2 weeks away, but I won’t be in Singapore. So I called in and said I could not take this date, and added, do you have another slot (even though I am not supposed to re-schedule).
That’s right, I could not. She could not, saying she needs to refer it back to the Polyclinic.
That night, while driving I still remember, I utter this comment, “I hope they can give me another date, and that’s a Monday!”
The next day, the Polyclinic staff called and said they are willing to re-schedule but the next opening is AUGUST (2 weeks away to 4 months away). “OK, I take it.”
She was hesitant. “That’s too far away. Not advisable.” I assured her that I’m fine with this. She was apprehensive, and then added, “The doc has written the word URGENT on the note. I need to check to the doctor.” and she hung up.
After some minutes, I received a text. TTSH gave me a new appointment – 15 May and it’s on a MONDAY!
The Lord knows and He provides. Despite a “no re-scheduling” and “no available slot”, they could give me a Monday on 15 May. I cannot ask for more.
• Anything serious with my eye, no. If the Lord knows that it’s not serious, then why did He help me get an early date?
• It’s not for the eye, but for me. To wait for 4 months and not knowing what’s wrong and a note that says URGENT, is not going to be helpful for me.
• God gave me the peace of mind that I needed.
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We see the providence of God here, the fact that Elisha was at the site of the problem.
• It wasn’t just by chance he was there, the author seems to highlight to us.
• 6:2 the prophets asked for permission and Elisha says, GO. KJV “Go ye.”
• 6:3 says “Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”
• It seemed that he wasn’t prepared to go with them, at this point, at least not yet. Not when they were chopping down trees.
• UNTIL someone came to ask him to “please come with us.” And he did.
The interesting thing is that the author included such a very casual exchange.
• Are you coming? Please come. This become a crucial turning point, because Elisha’s presence turned out to be significant.
• They are going to face a small problem, coming up in Jordan, and Elisha’s presence will make the difference.
By God’s providence, this man of God went with the prophets. By God’s leading, Elisha said to the man who invited him, “I will” (6:3).
• God arranges the help before this man knows that he has a need of it.
This is the God we know. He knows what is to come and He provides the solution ahead of time.
• We know this for sure because we’ve come to know Jesus our Saviour today – the sacrificial Lamb that has been prepared for us, ahead of time, long before we even know that we have such a need.
John Newton wrote this short poem:
Not one concern of ours is small,
If we belong to Him,
To teach us this, the Lord of all,
Once made the iron to swim.
Is there anything we need to worry about? Come to Him. Pray and trust Him.
