Are You a Tool?

There are events in the Bible that are familiar to many people.  Think of things like Noah and the ark, Daniel in the lion’s den, Jesus raising a man from the dead.  But there are many, many accounts that are remarkably interesting and have important lessons but are lesser known, even obscure for many people.

Here’s one of those stories that illustrates a valuable Bible truth: It’s good to remember that God works in creative, memorable ways, but through normal ways as well. You can read this simple, lesser-known account in the Bible in 2 Kings 6:1-7, but to summarize, Elisha was a famous teacher and prophet in Old Testament times.  His followers/students suggested to him that they expand the space where they met, so they all went down to the Jordan River to cut down some trees for lumber.

As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron head from his ax fell into the water.  He cried out in alarm because, not only had he lost the head, the ax was also borrowed!

Calmly, Elisha asked, “Where did it fall?” and the man showed him.  Elisha cut a stick and threw it in the water, and it made the ax head float!  Elisha said to the man, “Lift it out,” and he did. End of story.

Before we go further, consider these questions:
Have you ever borrowed something you broke or lost?
Did this story trigger a memory of something someone else borrowed from you and broke or lost it?

While God, through Elisha, provided a miraculous method to retrieve the ax head, think about what God could have done, but chose not to.  He could have miraculously provided their new meeting space, but He let them build it.  Sometimes we ask God for a miracle, but instead, He gives us a tool.

Why do you think God intervened miraculously for what seems like a fairly mundane situation?  I think it’s because it was important to the student and to the owner of the tool!  And, this was a demonstration of God’s care, protection, and grace.  No lecture, just problem-solving!  He intervened miraculously so they could continue their work in a regular everyday, non-miraculous way.  That’s the way God often works: through us!

Do you think Elisha lectured the student about proper usage and care for an ax?  I can hear it: “You should regularly check the tightness of the ax head,” “You shouldn’t have been working so close to the river’s edge,” “It is unwise to be a borrower of tools!”  That might have happened, but there’s no record of it.  That was the end of the story.  The Bible moves on to other topics. The Bible is full of unwarranted forgiveness and grace:
Jesus reached out to a social outcast.  John 8:1-11
Jesus invites himself to dinner at a traitor’s home.  Luke 19:1-10
While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.  Romans 5:6-8
 
4832 Ponderings…
Do you have a story of grace that you can share?  A time when someone forgave, lent a hand, overlooked a short-coming or bad moment?
Are you a person of grace?  Will you look for opportunities to extend grace to others today?

For further reflection, read Psalm 139:1-14 (Today’s New International Version)
1 You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.