God can Correct our Accidents
2 Kings 6:1-7
1. The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us.
2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”And he said, “Go.”
3 Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied.
4 And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees.
5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”
6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.
7 “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
Miracles are out of ignorance. Accidents are out of carelessness. The situation with this prophet could have possibly been avoided, if he had secured the axe head. The passage records the company of prophets needed more room. They were building an addition and invited Elisha to assist in the carpentry work. There was a sense of excitement with the project. All the men worked together on the project. While one man was cutting down a tree, the axe head fell off and dropped into the nearby river. He was concerned because it was borrowed. He confessed he was in trouble. Elisha asked where the axe head fell into the water. He threw a stick into the water. The miracle from God caused the head to float to the top. The fellow reached for it and repaired the axe.
In this situation we see that God intervened even in an accident. He allowed the man to be spared the embarrassment of going to the individual from whom he borrowed the axe and explain the situation to him. Maybe that was the only axe available and the job was stopped. But one thing for certain, it was useless on the bottom of the river and not useful again until it was in its rightful place. God took the accident and made it a praiseful incident.
Sometimes miraculously, most often naturally, God can correct our accidents. We need to realize that God has given us natural laws and spiritual laws that we cannot break. If we do then there are consequences for Christians and for non-Christians alike. We need to be careful and not careless. I do not think I am misrepresenting the text when I say that there are times in our service and work for God we will innocently make mistakes and sometimes have accidents. Remember God can overcome those. There will be times when we do not have what it takes and our shortcomings will be supplemented and the task will be done. There are also times when we will blow it because of carelessness. God will overcome, show His power to and be involved.
We have a Lord that is worth praising and serving. We can take our failures and our weaknesses and not be afraid of using them but boldly go forth. When we fail, let Him pick up the pieces, either in small or great ways, to accomplish His will. Your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Pastor Ronald Wallace says, “Our labor may seem to be in veiling vain. It may seem to be spoiled by mistakes and shortcomings and accidents, but it is not in vain. Let us go to our work for Christ joyfully remembering that He can turn poison into sweetness, He can turn our little offering into abundance, and He is always there to watch in our catastrophes that come upon us.”
God is still in control.
