Daily Devotional

“As one was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, ‘Alas, master! For it was borrowed’ ” (2 Kings 6:5). 

A recently developed metal composite made of a magnesium alloy reinforced with hollow particles of silicon carbide is very strong— yet it’s lighter than water. This floating metal could become an important element in the production of future warships.

Of course, there aren’t many metals that float, and iron—one of the heaviest—certainly isn’t one of them; but the Bible gives an instance where the Lord caused iron to defy the laws of nature.

The sons of the prophets schools, institutions of godly instruction, had prospered under Elisha’s mentorship. But at one of these schools, the students had outgrown their space and needed new living quarters. So, they requested, “Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell” (2 Kings 6:2). Elisha agreed and went along to encourage them. Soon they were hard at work. But as they chopped down trees by the Jordan River, one man’s heavy, iron axe head flew off the handle and splashed into the muddy water.

The young man was very concerned as it wasn’t his property, so he cried out to Elisha. After determining where it had fallen, the prophet cut a stick of wood and threw it into the river and the axe head floated to the sur- face. “Pick it up for yourself” (2 Kings 6:7), Elisha told him, and the young man retrieved the borrowed tool with amazement and great relief.

This story illustrates how intimately God is concerned with our lives. Though it’s hard to comprehend, the Lord of the entire universe notices even our small problems. The Bible advises us to cast all our cares on Him, “for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Will you trust Him today to help you with your difficulties, large or small?

Dear Lord, thank You for caring about our minor problems as well as the larger concerns of our lives.