Iron Sharpens Iron

For a while now, I’ve been captivated by an obscure little miracle that takes place in 2 Kings 6. Essentially, the prophet Elisha had cultivated a thriving ministry, and his team had outgrown their meeting place. So many people were coming to learn from the prophets that Elisha and his men needed to build a larger space. So they gathered a crew to go into the woods and chop down timber for this purpose.

2 Kings 6:4-7 says:

“So Elisha went with them…But as one of them was cutting a tree, his iron axehead fell into the river. ‘Oh, sir!’ he cried. ‘It was a borrowed ax!’

‘Where did it fall?’ Elisha asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the axehead floated to the surface. ‘Grab it,’ Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.’”

As I sat with this passage, the Lord reminded me of several truths about His nature.

First, God is deeply moved by the details of our lives. 

This story deals with the minutiae of an unnamed man’s labor. There is no fanfare about this miracle, either. It barely takes up space on the page and is slotted into the pages of a book filled with what could arguably be considered more impressive accounts of the Lord moving.

But that iron axehead was costly and precious to the man using it. And can you imagine the way the man’s faith was grown because of this moment? The God of the Old Testament - deemed so mighty and awe-inducing - came close and said this matters to me.

The Lord promptly nudged my own heart with a question. “What matters to you today that you think might be beyond my touch?”

Not only is God mighty and awe-inducing, He’s also kind and tender - invested in the very things I consider too insignificant for the Holy of Holies. In soldiering on with a self-sufficiency mindset, I can miss the opportunity to receive from Jehovah Jireh…trading my portion of manna for monotony.

The second thing the Lord drew my attention to was the simplicity of the process. In these verses, a believer called upon his friend, and the friend was faithful to use his gifting. Elisha said, “Show me where the problem is,” and then he leaned upon the power of God. Nothing hokey. Nothing forced. Just an honest ask for help from the proximity of fellowship.

And finally, the Lord reminded me that when we hunger for Him - when we call on Him for help - He loves to give us an invitation.

That iron axehead, which should have sunk and been lost forever, rose to the surface. Then, through Elisha, God said to the man: Grab it. Go ahead. Take it.

Would we be so bold as to reach out and take what the Lord has for us? Oh that we’d trust He is for us, He is faithful, and He invites us to experience greater measures of His goodness. May our missing pieces and lost causes rise to the surface of God’s love as we seek His face.

Amy Chapman

_____________________________
Amy is a freelance writer and an engaged member at Mission Community Church