2 Kings 6:1-7 "Now the company of prophets said to Elisha, 'As you see, the place where we live..."

"Now the company of prophets said to Elisha, 'As you see, the place where we live under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, and let us collect logs there, one for each of us, and build a place there for us to live.' He answered, 'Do so.' Then one of them said, 'Please come with your servants.' And he answered, 'I will.' So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his ax head fell into the water; he cried out, 'Alas, 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. He said, 'Pick it up.' So he reached out his hand and took it" (2 Kings 6:1-7 NRSV).
 

Comment:

It's always difficult to be the next in line after a very successful, very popular predecessor. This was the challenge for Elisha, who inherited the mantle of the great prophet Elijah. As a result, the historical book we refer to as 2 Kings includes a collection of stories about Elisha's spiritual powers, intended to emphasize his worthiness as a major prophet. They are folk tales, passed down through oral tradition long before they were ever written down. Think of George Washington and the cherry tree or St. Christopher carrying Jesus across the water or St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland. We all love such stories—not necessarily for their historical accuracy but for the underlying appreciation of special people who were able to express their innate divinity in wonderful ways.   People have tried to concoct “scientific” explanations for phenomena such as the ax head that is caused to float. That's interesting, but it misses the point of the story. Metaphysically, the message is that when we are properly aligned with our innate Oneness with God, then scientific laws become means of expression, not impediments. Jesus taught that our innate spiritual powers could literally move mountains if we fully believed in them; certainly, then, Elisha's faith in his role as a channel for the divine can easily cause an ax head to float in the Jordan.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed