Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6:1-23
One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.”
“All right,” he told them, “go ahead.”
“Please come with us,” someone suggested.
“I will,” he said. So he went with them.
When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”
“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it. – 2 Kings 6:1-7
Have you ever heard the saying — He was at the right place at the right time? This seems like that kind of moment. Elisha had no plans to go to the Jordan River, but ended up taking the trip due to a last minute invitation. The goal of the journey was to collect some logs for the new meeting place, but Elisha allowed himself to get sidetracked for the sake of a fellow worker in distress.
WILLING TO BE USED BY GOD WHEREVER, WHENEVER
While on this work trip, Elisha was able to retrieve a borrowed ax head that had fallen into the river. He simply broke a stick and threw it in where the ax head had landed, causing it to float to the surface. A small miracle to some, but huge for the man who would have been unable to replace the ax head (2 Kings 6:1-7).
While at home, Elisha received a visit from Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army. When he was struck with leprosy, Elisha instructed Naaman to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times and Naaman was healed. Through his healing, Naaman came to believe in the one true God (2 Kings 5:1-15).
When pursued by the enemy, Elisha was able to save the Israelite army from ambush time and time again by revealing where the Aramean army was waiting to attack them. When the king of Aram sent his troops to seize Elisha, he was able to speak the word and the entire Aramean army was blinded. At the same time, he was able to speak the word and allow his servant to see the heavenly troops and chariots of fire surrounding them to protect them from their enemy (2 Kings 6:8-18).
AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
Just like Elisha allowed God to use him when strategically positioned for spiritual opportunities, God showed up for the Israelites time and time again. In the same way, He continues to show up for us over and over again. He is consistently at the right place at the right time.
As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. – 2 Kings 6:18
Father God, thank you for the many ways in which you answer our prayers. Thank you for your faithful presence when we need you the most. We are grateful for this morning’s reminder that you are always ready to help us, and that you have a plan to strategically position us in the lives of others. Lord, we want to be available to be used by you — wherever, whenever.
“And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus — the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” – Acts 20:22-24