Ripple Effect

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Have you ever seen an axe head float?

The laws of physics insist this is impossible.

And yet Elisha dropped a stick in the Jordan where an axe head fell in, and it floated to the top.

Some might question, what kind of magician was this man? But his response would be likely to point us to his source of power. The LORD, his God. And given that God created the universe, including the laws of physics that dictate the ability of iron to swim, He can also break the rules for His own purposes. And in so doing, He receives glory and awe.

But why would He choose an axe head? Wasn't it an insignificant object?

Well. No. Actually, let's consider this. The servant told Elisha that the axe head was borrowed. He would have to return it. Or pay for it. And it's likely he didn't have the money to replace such a tool. I mean, if he could afford an axe, couldn't he have owned one?

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, 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.  (2 Kings 6:1-7 ESV)

Like a stone splashing in the water, causing ripples to spread and multiply many times the stone's size, the axe head created waves expanding its reach beyond the school of prophets at the Jordan. Can you imagine this servant returning the axe to its owner? Perhaps his brother ...

"I've come to return your axe."

"Yeah? How'd it go? Any trouble?" He ran a hand through his hair and chuckled. With a slight shake of his head, "I have to be honest. I was a little worried someone might get injured. After you left, I remembered the axe head was loose and I meant to tighten it." He fingered the handle, then turned the axe head over in his hand. "How'd you fix it?"

"I-I didn't." The servant shook inwardly. It was already loose? It could've flown off and hit the man of God ... he wouldn't worry about that right now. "It fell into the Jordan, and Elisha tossed a stick into the water, and it floated to the surface." If he hadn't witnessed it, he'd be sure he was a liar.

His brother narrowed his eyes and glared. "Iron don't swim."

"I know it sounds ..."

"It sounds like you hit your head. That's what it sounds like."

He did have a point. But the servant knew what had happened. He was there.

~~~

One thing leads to another. Either the story grows out of proportion to reality, or the truth's reach touches a far greater radius than anticipated.

I love this story. It doesn't matter how you spin the tale, there were witnesses to the event. Either everyone lied, or it truly happened.

Iron swam that day.

What lesson can we take from this? Let's ask the Word.

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)

"For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

"I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:2)

"But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" (Matthew 19:26)

I am sure we can each name something that we think we've lost and are unable to retrieve. Relationship. Health. Finances. Time. You fill in the blank.

We have Someone to whom we can go for the redemption of the lost thing. A gentle thought: He might not restore the thing (it might have been unhealthy), but He will heal the wound and restore your ability to trust and your hope.

We can ask for restoration:

"Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved!" (Psalm 80:19)

"Restore us to Yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old--" (Lamentations 5:21)

"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." (Psalm 51:12) 

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 What's your floating axe head? Ask, and He will restore in ways only He can.

Until next time,  make heaven crowded.  💜 Karlene J 💜

Stay tuned. Coming next: The Miracle of His Protection

Unmasked and Exposed

As followers of Christ, I doubt any of us like to hear that we're prideful, or that God finds us resistible. But what would you do if someone did say this?

How often do we pray and wonder whether our prayers are smacking a brass ceiling and bouncing back on our heads?

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I'll be honest. I have found myself begging God to tell me what it is that blocks our airways. I sincerely don't think there's anything I'm doing wrong. I'm counting the cost of every (nearly) decision. I'm endeavoring to spend time in His word and in prayer. But something is standing between us. It's not like I think I've lost Him, or that He's turned His back on me. I just can't seem to get a solid connection, kind of like the issue I have with my smartphone, which won't allow me to see emails unless I'm on WiFi. The bill is paid, I have service, but I cannot access that feature, nor can I download pictures, until I am connected. 

This past week, while studying Elisha's ministry, the account of Naaman's healing was addressed (2 Kings 5:1-14). This man was well-respected by the Syrian king, a true warrior. But he had a problem. He was a leper.

He had a servant girl who'd been taken from Israel during a Syrian raid. Somehow, this little girl was not afraid of him, nor was she afraid to speak up on his behalf. While tending her duties for Naaman's wife, she said, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:3). When Naaman heard this, he sought out his king, who wrote a letter to the Israeli king and sent Naaman on his way.

Laden with gold, silver, and clothes, Naaman went to the king of Israel. This king was fearful, believing it was a trap. But Elisha heard about the king tearing his clothes and encouraged him to send Naaman to his home. But Elisha never even saw Naaman. He sent his servant Gehazi out with instructions, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean" (2 Kings 5:10).

This angered Naaman. He was important. Didn't Elisha understand this? Shouldn't he at least have come and seen him face-to-face?

As he left, his rage simmered. But his servants appealed to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean?''' (2 Kings 5:13).

Naaman relented and dipped in the Jordan as prescribed. Not only was his flesh made like a child's, but his soul was cleansed also. The man was made new. And it all began with a little girl who had the presence of mind to be tenderhearted towards her captor instead of fearful and angry within her circumstances. 

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Once healed, Naaman attempted to bring the gifts back to Elisha, but was turned away with the words that it wouldn't be right to accept tokens for what God had done.

But Elisha's servant, Gehazi, had other ideas. He snuck out, sought out Naaman, and procured some of the gifts for himself. And then, he lied to Elisha about it. His greed, deception, and pride brought on himself and his family the leprosy that had been Naaman's (2 Kings 5:15-27).

This account was unsettling. Not only did the heart of one man soften towards something he thought was beneath him, but another's heart lifted up in pride to obtain what was not his to claim. And the reward for each action followed.

Scripture tells us, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18) and also "Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor" (Proverbs 18:12). James reminds us later, "But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

So, what is pride?

It is taking credit for what only God can do. It is lifting oneself to a place of idolatry. Words like self-sufficiency, self-reliance, self-worth ... are indicators of setting one's own self in a place where God alone ought to reside. Yes, it is taking credit for what only God can do. But it is also any action that disallows God from intervening in any situation. It's the "I've got this" mindset that says I will power through this difficulty and come out on the other side all the stronger for it.

Going back to the block I'd been asking the Lord about, I can honestly say it was the attitude of self-reliance and trying to figure things out on my own. Proverbs says this:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones" (Proverbs 3:5-8). 

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Eventually, what we hide inside is going to make its way to the surface, and everyone will see it. 

It's not the visible part of the iceberg that is dangerous, but that which is hidden beneath the surface. 

So why not just take it to the Lord and deal with it now?

Until next time, go with God. 💜 Karlene J 💜