Will the iron swim for you?
2 Kings 6:6 “And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast in thither, and the iron did swim.”
Elisha is a prophet in Israel. As an itinerant preacher, he would go around Israel meeting with the sons of the prophets; a group of people separated to God and His worship. (There was still a lot of idol worshippers in Israel)
Some of them come to Elisha, telling him that they need more room for their growing numbers. So they plan to go down to the river Jordan, and cut down saplings from along the bank.
Elisha agrees to the plan…”Go ye.”
But one of them asked him to accompany them; not to work, but to be there.
And Elisha agrees…”I will go”.
2 Kings 6:4-5 “And he went with them. When they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
And one was felling a beam, and the ax head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas master! for it was borrowed.”
This would have been an expensive tool….valuable and rare.
And he had borrowed it; so the honor of their word to return it, would have been on the line.
So he told Elisha….perhaps this was the very reason God wanted him to be there.
(A word about the Jordan: it is a very muddy River. That ax head, or “iron” which fell into that; it would be impossible to find it….it would be covered with mud.)
2 Kings 6:6 “And the man of God said, Where fell it?…”
Elisha, was immediately praying for the matter…..standing in his place as a representative of God.
What should he do? He could pray for money to be given to replace it…..or he could pray that God would retrieve it…..
….whatever would be more to God’s glory….that is what he wanted.
2 Kings 6:6-7 “…….And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it thither; and the iron did swim.
Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand and took it.”
Up from the muddy depths came the “iron”, by the simple obedience of Elisha.
This was an impossible situation, but the iron did swim.
Are you confronting an impossible situation? Then, hear our Lord Jesus to His disciples:
Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I want to point out (as the Lord pointed out this word to me, years ago) this little word “all”.
What does it signify? It includes the numbers, and the vastness of things. It is inclusive…it leaves nothing out, not small or large, not physical or spiritual, not anything. It includes “all”.
And that is what the Lord says is possible to God….and it was in answer to a question about salvation.
Matthew 19:25 “When his disciples heard it, they were exceeding amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?”
(Remember salvation is everything related to us from the time we are born again………through all eternity.
Conviction, being born again, being saved from the power of the world, sin, and ourselves, being saved from others [Romans 8:35-39 “…nothing can separate us from the love of God…”], being taken to heaven.
All that effects our walk with Jesus……is included in the term salvation.
God can bring anyone…..”all”…..anyone from drowning in the mire of this world….to salvation in Him. The iron can swim.)
We are placed in situations, as Elisha was at Jordan, for us to have the Lord’s direction and help, for ourselves….and others.
(Often by helping others in prayer, word, or deed, I have been strengthened myself. By giving the Lord’s Word, grace is also received.)
This is a simple story of a miracle….there are no trumpets or bands….seven short verses describe a amazing feat.
It also is a story of personal loss….not just for the money which he did not have to replace it;……but of his word to return the ax for this believer.
And a story of the Lord’s goodness,…….especially in something we would think insignificant for the Lord to “bother with”.
But He did it. The iron did swim.
Sometimes, I believe, we pray as though we know the Lord will not answer us….
….we pray…sure, He could….if He would…sort of, prayers.
Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
By faith, is according to His Will, as He has shown you.
Believing is the act of obedience to what He wants you to do about it.
(Elisha had to cut down a stick and cast it in the Jordan, to make the iron swim.)
Will the iron swim for you, in your situation….big or little; crisis or not?
No matter what the size, or extremity; God hears, and gives guidance.
Will we come to Him believing, and receive it?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 