The Axe Head Recovered

  

2 Kings 6: 1-7

 

September 2, 2021

 

 

The Axe Head Recovered

“Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us.   Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.”   Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”   So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.   But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.”   Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float.   And he said, “Take it up.” So, he reached out his hand and took it.”

 

When this account was read to me as a child, I was not equipped to grasp the fullness of an axe head floating in a river.  My parents had told me that the Bible was true, and it had no errors, my pastor and Sunday School teacher also told me so, it was a truth, for these people did not lie.

 

You may or may not have gone to church as a young person, and you understood that an axe head is made out of steel, and in the form of an axe head will not float in water, it will only rust, and lay on the bottom.  That's true, but so is what my parents taught me many years ago, how can that be, if both are true?  

 

First, with God who created all that is, or will ever be, that is such a small thing, but God knew it would be a big thing for all who have studied the weight of an axe head, to fall a tree was about 4 lbs.  I googled and asked can an iron axe head float in water; this was one of the replies.  “An axe head could weigh as much as 15 to 20 pounds, and for an iron, object that heavy to float in water is a miracle!”

 

 Before going any further, maybe it is helpful to understand it was one of the sons of the prophets who lost the axe head, why did he look to Elisha and not do as Elisha always did and as Jesus always did?  What did they do, they looked to the Father, and they did ministry in His authority?

 

Could this be the problem with the Church today?  We are quick to look to a pastor or teacher, but when our axe head is under the water, and that is a metaphor for your life, why not do as Jesus did and ask the Father to make it float.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice