2 Kings 6:1-7
Elisha has now succeeded Elijah as a prophet to the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 2:1-18). He has by now already prophesied and God has performed a few miracles through him. But now we will see something peculiar, he makes an axe head float. This situation shows how God cares for His children and how He can provide for them in the little things of life. We also learn of Elisha’s interaction with everyday people. We cannot forget where we came from and do not become so engaged with the act of service that we forget the reason and to whom we serve.
In verse 1-3:
Here we see a few students (sons of prophets). The students wanted to go build a new place to study in because where they were at was beginning to get too small. This may be due to an increase in the number of students. They even decided to build the new school themselves. Not only that, but they also wanted Elisha to go with them.
So, what do these few verses tell us? Well, I do not know for certain, but I would think that Elisha was a teacher here (2 Kings 4:38) and it seems that he was somewhat popular because the students wanted him to go with them as they built a new school. These men were willing to work and not just sit idly by and wait for a new school to be built. There is work that needs to be done in the service for the Lord. Not all of us will do the same type of work, but we all have our part in God’s service.
• Luke 10:2, Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
• Romans 12:4, For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
His popularity may have come from the miracles that had been performed and the people could tell that he was a man of God. He not only showed this in his speech but in his daily walk. It would behoove many professing Christians today to not only talk the talk but to walk the walk more so.
• Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
In verses 4-7:
There are quite a few questions that will be asked during this next section. We see that as they came to Jordan, they began to labor. But suddenly, one man’s axe head came off the handle and fell into the water. He started stressing, “What am I to do?” Was it because it was not his tool? Why did he borrow it anyway? Did he not have his own tools? Being as he was a student; I would suspect that the man could not afford to have much. Or maybe, someone saw something in the man and trusted him with the tool.
Why did the axe head fall off? Were the tools not properly prepared or was it just a coincidence? Where did it fall? What happened after it fell off, the work stopped. The man then calls for Elisha. The man knew to who to call for. Does the scripture say anything about Elisha rebuking the student for being careless or for not having his own tool? No, he simply went to help. What a miracle to happen. God looks at the small things just as much as the big things.
You see, the axe head laid on the bottom of the river. It was raised up, restored, replaced, and then put back to work again. If we look at this another way, Elisha reaches down, places a stick in the water, which compels the axe head to come forth, it was fixed and was ready to be used. That is what Christ has done for us. We were down in the mire, we were dirty, we were filthy, and we were uncleaned. Christ gave Himself for us so that we could be made clean.
• 1 Peter 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
What do we do when something like this happens to us? Has God trusted us with heavenly tools to use for His service? Have we taken care of them? Christians, what have we done with the tools God has graced us with? We need to recognize that we have lost it, pray, and go back to where we lost it. Seek guidance from a spiritual mentor, ask for someone to help us pray.
We need to get our assignment in alignment with God’s direction. We need to get ourselves in alignment for our assignment.
• Hebrews 12:1, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
• Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
• Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
God made the iron (axe head) to swim. Christians need to learn to sharpen our axe, learn to hold on and have a better grip. When we recognize that we have lost it, we should get on our knees and not the telephone, go back to where we lost it, and maybe find a spiritual leader. Man is like an axe head; he can slip off the handle and fall into muddy waters. Elisha used a stick; cast it in the river to bring the axe head up. Christ hung on a cross to lift us up.
• Galatians 6:1, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
The occurrence of the floating axe head is recorded to demonstrate, even in seemingly insignificant occurrences of daily life, God’s care, and provision for those who trust Him. God is always available. This miracle, which occurs in Scripture between the deliverance of Israel’s army and the healing of a Syrian general, also demonstrates Elisha’s personal contact with the students studying to become prophets. Elisha was revered by kings, but he never forgot to take care of the faithful. Our concern for the needs of other people should not be overshadowed by the significance of our work.
Do we have the correct tools in our Christian toolbox? Are they in good working order and properly prepared for our Christian duty? Are they easily accessible?
