II Kings Chapter 6
Please read: II Kings 6 –
Just like Jesus, the miracles that Elisha did, got the attention of many people. There were now more men that followed after Elisha wanting to be taught in the things of God. They needed a bigger building for the prophets in training to stay in. So they asked Elisha if they could build one. Elisha agreed and even went with them to cut down trees to turn into logs to build with. And here we have a little miracle that happened regarding a man losing a borrowed axe that fell into the Jordan. This miracle of the axe floating to the top of the water teaches us a couple things. First, it teaches us that God cares about even the little concerns of our life, and secondly that God can make something as heavy as iron float if that is what He deems necessary to produce faith in the hearts of men. And I think a third thing that we can say about this miracle is that there were probably many more that God did through his servant Elisha that are not recorded in the Bible.
The other thing we learn in this chapter of recorded miracles is that God protected the prophet Elisha and his students when raiders came from Syria to take their lives. Elisha asked for God’s protection and He sent him an invisible army. God delights in helping those who seek after Him with their whole heart as Elisha did.
Let's Reflect
1. Why was the man so concerned about losing the axe that fell into the Jordan?
2. Of course, there was no special power in throwing a stick into the water that would cause the axe to rise to the top. It was probably more of a marker as in “x marks the spot” where God will cause your axe to come floating to the top. Everyone knows that iron does not float, so that would have been a bit odd, but there was a bit of exercise of faith when Elisha said what to the man?
3. The king of Syria kept sending raids into Israel with plans to eliminate the king of Israel. But each time the king was not where he was supposed to be because he was warned by Elisha that they were coming. This made the king of Syria angry and he accused his men of showing loyalty to Israel. What did the men respond to their king’s accusation? See verse 12.
4. The king of Syria decided he needed to take out this prophet called Elisha. He was told that Elisha had some kind of power that could hear his words even in the king’s own bedroom. They knew where Elisha was and sent men to take Elisha captive. Where was Elisha residing?
5. One of Elisha’s servants woke up in the morning to a scary sight of an army coming toward them. His servant told Elisha, but what did Elisha say about his fear?
6. Notice that Elisha could see the help the LORD had sent, but the fearful servant could not. What did Elisha pray on behalf of this fearful servant?
7. Elisha prayed that God would blind the Syrian soldiers and He did. Probably not a complete blindness but one that would not allow them to make out people. Elisha led them to Syria to the king of Israel. He had said he was taking them to the man they really wanted to see. This was not a lie since the raids had originally been to take out the king of Israel. The king of Israel was certainly confused about the raiders being brought right to him and asked Elisha if he should kill them. What was Elisha’s answer?
8. The Bible does not tell us this, but we can assume the men were also healed of their blindness, because what did they do after they ate and drank?
9. Verse 23 tells us that there were not raids any more into Israel, but the king of Syria was not satisfied with this, and he decided to stage an all-out war. He marched a great army to Samaria and surrounded it not allowing anyone to enter the city or to leave. The results brought great tragedy as the people of Samaria began to suffer from starvation. What are some details of how bad the situation was?
10. When the woman told the king about the agreement she had made with another woman who then broke their agreement, the king was upset and tore his clothes and put ashes on his head. The king was not acting in a manner of repentance. Instead, he pointed all of his anger and frustration toward one man. Who did the king blame for all the difficulties brought on in Samaria?
11. What was the king of Israel going to do to Elisha?
