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Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-7
By Dr. Joseph W. Henderson
Sunday, January 10, 2010
KingdomView, Vol. II, Issue 2
For some of you reading this article today your life may have sunk to the bottom, but God can cause it to float to the surface like a cork. In our text today, the prophet Elisha recovers a lost iron axehead from the bottom of the Jordan River by causing it to float to the surface. This axehead was accidentally lost by one of Elisha’s student-prophets during a construction project near the Jordan River. Isn’t it wonderful to know that “God can recover that which we have lost”? You may have lost a precious relationship, peace of mind or some sense of security, or maybe even hope for a better tomorrow. Whatever you’ve lost that has sunk to the bottom of the river of life’s floor, God can cause it to surface again. Consider these four points for thought:
Because of Elisha’s successful prophetic ministry, many young men, student-prophets, were drawn to him for instruction and training in the Word of the Lord. There were several schools for the sons of the prophets located in Israel. Elisha, an itinerant prophet visits one of his schools where the dormitory is too small to accommodate their needs. Therefore, these student-prophets had to build their own new facility¾they were poor and didn’t qualify for a loan or have access to building fund monies to finance the project¾all they had was sweat equity!
The text now turns its focus on one student-prophet in particular who had borrowed an axe (2 Kings 6:5). The word “borrowed” here should’ve been translated as “begged.” As he was working, the iron axehead flew off the axe handle and into the Jordan River. The student-prophet panicked, for iron was expensive and relatively rare in Israel and because the axe was loaned to the student-prophet he’d have to reimburse the owner for it. The Law of Moses required restitution to be paid for the damage or loss of borrowed property (Exodus 22:14). The student-prophet cried out to Elisha and a miracle ensued.
Elisha did something that the student-prophet could not do to help his situation: he caused the iron axehead to float to the surface and swim to shore. This feat defies the laws of physics. In other words, it’s a miracle. God can and often does the same thing for us when we come to Him in earnest faith. That in which we’ve lost and cannot recover, He does. Here’s some good news that should cause you to lift your hands or stand up and dance in the Lord (or both). Are you ready? The next time you lose something in the river of life’s challenging circumstances, follow the prescription provided by the student-prophet:
Now that’s what your heavenly Father does, He brings those things that are dropped in the depths of the river of life’s trials back to the surface and within your reach ¾ praise the Lord!
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