Small Miracles [Devotional]

Devotions ChopChop ^ | January 26, 2009 | Dave Miller (tenger)

[tenger]

The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live." And he said, "Go."

Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?" "I will," Elisha replied. And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"

The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:1-7

In 2 Kings 2:9 Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah's spirit before Elijah was caught up in the whirlwind. Elijah performed 14 miracles; Elisha performed 28 - exactly double the number. The miracle of the floating axhead is one of those 28 miracles.

I find the miracle amusing. Presumably, because the company of prophets were cutting down trees, the iron axhead flew into the Jordan. It presented a big problem because the servant had said that he had borrowed it. That’s something we would do and say! Elisha caused the axhead to float again, and the servants went back to cutting down poles for their larger quarters.

As far as miracles go, it's not really all that exciting Somehow it doesn't rank up there with the feeding of the 5000 or raising Lazarus from the dead or even the very next miracle listed: opening the eyes of his servant to see the horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. And yet, God was working through Elisha to prove his power over the mundane and practical things of life, namely, an iron axhead floating in the Jordan River.

Often God will let you in on those smaller miracles (your daughter comes home safely in the midst of an ice storm or God gives you insight into a troubling matter at work or God sends a new friend your way just when you need one). The papers or TV will never carry those types of "miracles," but like Mary in the New Testament, you treasure all these things and ponder them in your heart (Luke 2:19). For when you need them again, God will remind you about them - evidence of yet another small miracle.