The Lesson of the Axe Head

THE LESSON OF THE AXE HEAD (2 Kings 6:1-7)

THERE are many people who are continually suffering spiritual losses m their lives. But we believe that God wants us to recover every loss; He does not want us to lose anything. When He gives us something, whatever it may be, I le gives il to us to enjoy and retain for eternity. We are given everlasting life, not for a few years only, but for eternity, and that lite must flaw in us and through us for eternity. Even though the enemy may seek to prevent the flow in full measure, God wants to remove every obstacle and ensure a full flow all the time.

In the taps in your home, there may not always be a full flow of water. Nothing is wrong with the water supply, for there is plenty of water in the water tank; but there is a blockage in the waterpipe. You get a plumber who knows his job and he removes the obstacle and the water flows freely once again. In other homes there are often leaking taps. The lap goes on leaking hour after hour and there is much wastage, yet it needs only a new washer and the leaking will stop. We once had such a tap at the back of our house and it kept on leaking for many years, and much water was wasted. Nobody would take the pains to put on a new washer to stop the leakage. Then one day someone had mercy upon us and changed the washer, and the tap stopped leaking.

There are also many leaking believers. They are wasting everything: their time, money and energy are being us-spent. Sometimes only a simple thing is necessary to stop the leakage and wastage. Yet, whether we lose things through negligence or through folly the loss can be recovered. The Scripture tells us that whatever is lost spiritually can be recovered. lt may seem impossible, but by the help of God, by His grace and by His word, there can be recovery.

That simple lesson is taught to us in the story in 2 Kings 6:1-7 about the young prophets. Those young men were studying with Elisha and they fauna the place too small tor them. They wanted a larger house, and for this they needed wood. They had to go beyond Jordan to cut the wood; se they all got together and went there, and even though they were young men, and the sons of the prophets, they had some wisdom, and took with them Elisha (verse 3).

‘They could have said, ‘Why should we be bothered with an old man? He cannot help us in any way. He cannot walk long distances. If he comes with us we may have to carry him, feed him and serve him.' That is how many young people feel. They think they should not serve their fathers because they have studied only to the third class, and cannot spell even one word of English. Young people today think they know so much more than their elders. Maybe their fathers cannot speak fluently. Perhaps they stutter and mutter before they can utter even one word. So the young people question why they should go to such old men and women with their personal problems. They think they are more clever than their parents or relations, and for that reason there are many young lives that have been ruined through folly. These young men however had understanding, and showed it by their request for Elisha to go with them.

While they were there felling the wood, one young man lost his axe head, which fell into the water (verse 5). He could not have been a very clever young man, or he would have seen to the axe before he set out. He ought to have seen that the axe handle was strong and the head firmly attached. But being inexperienced, he began cutting the wood without noticing that the head was loose, and at the first stroke the axe head fell into the river. It was a deep river and the young man began to very out: 'Now, what shall I do? That axe did not belong to him. He had borrowed it from somebody else, and must have promised that after he had cut the wood, he would return the axe safely to the owner. As the son of a prophet he must keep his promise.

There are many people who know how to borrow. They are very, very clever. Whenever they want to borrow anything, particularly money, they Jook very innocent, and say, ‘I will pay you back immediately, the very day I yet my wages.’ By the manner they speak, the lender's heart is softened. He says in his heart, ' must help this poor man. He looks a good man, and will surely keep his word.' So what the borrower asks is given to him. But does he keep his word? Things that were borrowed last year are not returned yet! When you remind such people, at first they answer nicely, but after a few days they become your enemies, They know how to borrow, but they never learn how to pay back.

Many believers have lost their joy and peace and rights in this way. They cannot keep their word. They do not keep their promises. They do not pay their debts. But the young man in this story, even though through his own folly he had lost the axe head, he wanted to return it. He had no money to buy a new one and that is why he was sad. 'Alas, what shall I do? How can I face that man? I said so solemnly, "I will bring back your axe safely to you." Now I have lost it. What shall I da?

He was a wise young man, however, and instead of going to the young people, he went to Elisha. He could have said, 'My young companions, my axe has fallen into the water, please go into the water and get it for me.’ Being a wise young man, however, he went ta Elisha, an old man, rather than to the young men (verses 15:16). He said to him, 'Alas, my master!'! He had faith that if anybody could help him, at any time, it was only Elisha (verse 15). When that young man went to Elisha and appealed for help, he confessed his inability and acknowledged his failure. He said, ‘Alas, my master, what I should do?' Elisha said, ‘Show me the place where the axe fell.' So the young man pointed it out, and Elisha cut down a branch of the tree and dropped it into the water. Immediately the axe began to float. Like a piece of straw, the iron came to the surface and began to float on the water. That is how the young man recovered his loss. [t is a simple story, but full of deep meaning, to teach us how every spiritual loss can be recovered.

We should note that in the first place, the young men requested Elisha to go with them. In the same way, make it a point, whenever you go anywhere, and wherever you go, to make sure that the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Elisha, goes with you. Don't depend upon your own strength or wisdom for your blessing or prosperity. If the Lord does not yo with you, then whatever you do, will never be prosperous.

Secondly, when you do lose something, do not be ashamed to confess it. This young man could have said, ‘It was not my fault; the handle was broken’. But he made no attempt to cover his fault. Confess your faults readily. Do not cover your folly and shame; and do not go to others for help, go directly to the Lord Jesus Christ. The young man first came to Elisha. You also go first to Christ. Go to His fect. Humble yourself and confess your loss and failures lo I Tim.

Let your prayer be: ‘Alas, my Master, what shall I do?! Let Christ take you to the place where the loss took place. Be willing and prepared to see how God will help you. That stick cut by Elisha speaks of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. For our sins He hung on a tree and died for us, and by the same Cross our loss can be recovered. The iron began to swim, though iL is impossible for iron to swim. But in the hand of Elisha such a feat was nothing. In the same manner, it is by faith we apply the Cross in our lives, and through it we will see every loss recovered.

Now, that young man could go forth with a new experience and a new faith. The loss had been fully recovered, and he had also recovered his peace and joy and wisdom. May God help you in the same way.

Remember this simple rule. First of all, show Him the place where the loss began in your life and go to that very place and say, 'Yes, Lord, on such and such a date, and at such and such a time, I behaved like a fool, and that is why there is this loss in my life.' If you go to the Lord with that confession, by the power of the Cross, He will help you to recover every loss. The Cross is the power of God, and faith is necessary — a simple and living faith.

‘David recovered all.’ Put your name in the place af David's and realize that you can recover your loss, whoever you may be; and you can also got much more that you ever lost. Our Lord is with us. He said: 'Lo, I am with you always.’ Do not hesitate to go to Him. Tell Him your losses. Believe also that He died on the Cross on your behalf to help you to recover those losses.

Chapter 3