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“When Ax Heads Float” (2 Kings 6:1-7)
Perhaps one of the most famous prophets in all of the Old Testament is the prophet Elijah. He was a major part of my favorite Old Testament story, the showdown on Mt. Carmel.
However, as wonderful as Elijah was, the prophet who followed him actually had a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. That prophet’s name was Elisha. Let me tell you, Elisha was very special, and he had some weird stories.
Today, we’re going to learn about one of the weird stories from the ministry of Elisha. Before we do, let’s go to the Lord in prayer.
(prayer)
Well, today’s sermon is entitled “When Ax Heads Float.”
In case you didn’t know, iron ax heads are not supposed to float. However, in today’s passage, we’re going to see that sometimes they do float.
Let’s look at 2 Kings 6:1-7:
1 The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision is too small for us. 2 Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”
“Go,” he said.
3 Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”
“I’ll come,” he answered.
4 So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!”
6 Then the man of God asked, “Where did it fall?”
When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a piece of wood, threw it there, and made the iron float. 7 Then he said, “Pick it up.” So he reached out and took it.
Ok, let’s learn some more about Elijah and about this story.
First, let’s realize that . . .
I. Elisha was God’s servant.
Elisha is perhaps one of the most underrated prophets of the Old Testament.
He had some amazing miracles and stories associated with him. Some of these stories include:
Parting the Jordan River.
Purifying contaminated the water.
Producing endless oil for a widow to sell.
Raising a dead boy back to life.
Multiplying bread.
Healing a man named Naaman of leprosy.
And, one of my favorites: cursing some young boys who were making fun of his baldness. Let’s read about that one.
Look at 2 Kings 2:23-24
“From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy!” He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the children.”
I mean, this could be a sermon in the weird stories series for sure. However, this was one of many signs that Elisha was God’s anointed servant.
In fact, (as I said earlier) Elisha was given a double portion of the spirit that his predecessor, Elijah, had.
Listen to what 2 Kings 2:9-13 says about this: “When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.’ So Elisha answered, ‘Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.’ Elijah replied, ‘You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind. As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, ‘My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!’ When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two, picked up the mantle that had fallen off Elijah, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.”
So, we see the evidence here that Elisha received two shares, or double, of the s
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By First Baptist Church Bartow
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Perhaps one of the most famous prophets in all of the Old Testament is the prophet Elijah. He was a major part of my favorite Old Testament story, the showdown on Mt. Carmel.
However, as wonderful as Elijah was, the prophet who followed him actually had a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. That prophet’s name was Elisha. Let me tell you, Elisha was very special, and he had some weird stories.
Today, we’re going to learn about one of the weird stories from the ministry of Elisha. Before we do, let’s go to the Lord in prayer.
(prayer)
Well, today’s sermon is entitled “When Ax Heads Float.”
In case you didn’t know, iron ax heads are not supposed to float. However, in today’s passage, we’re going to see that sometimes they do float.
Let’s look at 2 Kings 6:1-7:
1 The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision is too small for us. 2 Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”
“Go,” he said.
3 Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”
“I’ll come,” he answered.
4 So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!”
6 Then the man of God asked, “Where did it fall?”
When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a piece of wood, threw it there, and made the iron float. 7 Then he said, “Pick it up.” So he reached out and took it.
Ok, let’s learn some more about Elijah and about this story.
First, let’s realize that . . .
I. Elisha was God’s servant.
Elisha is perhaps one of the most underrated prophets of the Old Testament.
He had some amazing miracles and stories associated with him. Some of these stories include:
Parting the Jordan River.
Purifying contaminated the water.
Producing endless oil for a widow to sell.
Raising a dead boy back to life.
Multiplying bread.
Healing a man named Naaman of leprosy.
And, one of my favorites: cursing some young boys who were making fun of his baldness. Let’s read about that one.
Look at 2 Kings 2:23-24
“From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy!” He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the children.”
I mean, this could be a sermon in the weird stories series for sure. However, this was one of many signs that Elisha was God’s anointed servant.
In fact, (as I said earlier) Elisha was given a double portion of the spirit that his predecessor, Elijah, had.
Listen to what 2 Kings 2:9-13 says about this: “When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.’ So Elisha answered, ‘Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.’ Elijah replied, ‘You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind. As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, ‘My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!’ When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two, picked up the mantle that had fallen off Elijah, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.”
So, we see the evidence here that Elisha received two shares, or double, of the s