What “impossible” thing are you facing today? What Red Sea are you standing before, with no way out, as the enemy is closing in on you from behind? What water needs to be turned into wine? What dead thing in your life needs to be resurrected? Today’s message, “The Steel Did Swim,” will prove profitable for your comfort and for your courage as you face whatever challenge is before you. My prayer is that you would read this message with a spirit of great anticipation about what God will do both in and through you.
2 Kings 6:1-7 recounts a remarkable story of the omnipotence of the Almighty and demonstrates that nothing is impossible with God for those who believe.
The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
Can you imagine a more hopeless situation regarding the recovery of the axe head? And to make matters worse, it was a borrowed axe that would now be forever lost. To be sure, by man’s power, the axe head that fell into the water would have remained submerged and lost. But with God, the steel did swim! What sunken “steel” is in your life right now that needs to swim to the surface by the grace and power of the Almighty?
- Shipwrecked by your singleness
- Pressured by your peers
- Anxiety over your academics
- Adversity in your athletics
- Mystified by your marriage
- Forsaken by your friends
- Perplexed about your parenting
- Worn out by your work
- Confused about your calling
- Snared by your sin
- Discouraged about your direction
- Struggling with your service
- Let down with your life
Notice in this passage three important truths that form the key to unlock the door of possibility when you are facing any problem in this life.
1. The man who lost the axe head cried out and shared his challenge.
2. When the Lord intervened, Scripture says the man “reached out his hand.”
3. Finally we read, the man “took it.”
What obstacle do you need to turn into an opportunity to magnify the name of your God? What problem has God sent your way to stretch your faith? What boat is He calling you to step out of and come to Him? Sure, the wind is howling and the waves are crashing, but Jesus is right there with you in the middle of your storm.
God will always place the grapes of goodness within your reach . . . but not in your mouth. You must reach out your hand and take them, by the grace of God. God has promised to do His part. Are we willing to do ours?
Remember, God has given us everything we need to live the life he is calling us to live—with freedom, faithfulness, and fruitfulness to Jesus. Call on Him, regardless of the challenge you are facing. Approach the throne of grace with confidence and plead the blood of the Lamb. The same God who made the steel swim for Elisha is standing at the ready to make steel swim for you. He will never disregard your predicament and He will never dishonor your plea.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 