God Can Restore What You Didn’t Mean to Lose (2 Kings 6:6-7)

Does anyone here have the spiritual gift of losing things? Raise your hand. Do you have someone in your family who has this gift? You seem to lose things all the time. Your keys, your wallet, your purse, the remote, whatever. You can’t find your sunglasses, and you are wearing them. We laugh about all this because we all misplace things and lose things that we don’t mean to lose.

But some things we lose are hard to get back, if we ever get them back. You may have lost a friendship. Maybe you are going through a difficult season in life, and you have lost your peace, lost your joy, or lost your sense of purpose. Maybe you have lost your trust in someone that you thought you would always be able to depend on. Maybe you have lost your spiritual passion and your intimacy with God. You don’t feel close to God like you used to you. Maybe something has been lost between you and your spouse, or you and one of your children.

We are wrapping up today a short series on Elisha and today I want to show you a very unusual and sort of quirky miracle that illustrates in a very powerful and important principle from God. And that is this, our good God will help you find what you didn’t mean to lose. Our God is a good and loving God who specializes in restoring what was lost. He is the God of restoration, and He will help you find what you didn’t mean to lose.

Context of Today’s Story

Let me give you the context of today’s story. Elisha was training young prophets, almost like seminary students, to learn the ways of God and to learn how to serve God and to serve others. They were living in this community getting closer to one another and learning the things of God. It was a growing ministry and growing community.

So, they decided they needed more space and more room. Their numbers had grown so much that their housing was too small, and so they decided to build a new campus. They decided to add on.

So, in 2 Kings 6, that is where we are today, they went down to the river to gather some trees, to cut the trees to add to the housing. While they were cutting down trees, an unnamed prophet (we don’t know who he is), loses a borrowed ax head, and so he panics and Elisha comes over and picks up a stick and cuts it in half and throws the stick into the water where the ax head fell in. Then something weird happens. The iron ax head floated to the top.

One of my questions is, “Why would God raise an ax head from the water?” That doesn’t seem that important. It’s just an ax head. I think it is because it is not always the big battles that break us, but often it is the little losses along the way that pile up and pile up. The things that we thought didn’t matter until they did. And one day it is just too much.

I’m going to show you the story that illustrates the principle that God will help you find what you didn’t mean to lose.

Oh, sir!

Let’s pick up our story in 2 Kings 6:4 which says, When they arrived at the Jordan, they [the prophets] began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. Let’s stop here for a moment. Let’s pause and acknowledge his godliness. He is chopping away. It’s hard work. They are building a building. He’s hot. He’s tired. His back is probably starting to bother him. He is getting blisters on his hands. He is swinging the ax and all of a sudden the ax head comes lose and flies into the nearby river. So, he says, “Oh, sir!” Which I think is great. Because some of you would have said, “Oh, something else!” But this was a young man of God who had control of his mouth.

Honoring God with what we say

God’s Word has a lot to say about our mouth and the words we use. For those of us who are believers, we should be speaking a different language. Our vocabulary should reflect the greatness of God, not our depravity and selfishness and sin. Let me give you some quick examples.

Ephesians 4:29, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (NLT).
Colossians 3:8, “Now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language” (NLT).
Colossians 4:6, “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive…” (NLT).
Look what Jesus said about all this, “The words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you” (Matthew 15:16, NLT). When you are put under pressure and stress, what comes out of your mouth actually reveals what is really in your heart.

Back to 2 Kings 6:4, 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 (2 Kings 6:4-6, NLT).

God’s Word goes on to say, “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 6:6-7, NLT).

One of the things that makes this miracle a little odd is when you compare it to the other miracles Elisha did in the Bible.

He parted the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:14)
He purified the Jordan river water (2 Kings 2:19-22)
He turned a little jar of oil into gallons and gallons of oil for a widow (2 Kings 4:1-7)
He raised a dead boy back to life (2 Kings 4:18-37)
He purified a poisoned stew (2 Kings 4:38-41)
He fed a hundred men with twenty loaves of bread (2 Kings 4:42-44)
He healed a man of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)
And then you throw in the mix, he raises an ax head from the bottom of the lake.

Small Miracles Carry Big Messages

With all the problems in the world at that time, like hunger and sickness and death, why raise a lost ax head from a lake? Well, one of the things we are going to learn is that sometimes the smallest miracle carries the biggest message. Let me explain.

During the time of this story, iron was very rare and expensive. Most people couldn’t even come close to affording their own ax, so this young prophet very likely borrowed the ax from a very wealthy person, and he lost something incredibly valuable.

If you were here last week, you may remember that if you lost something or owed someone money and couldn’t pay it back, the creditors could come take you or your children and make them temporary slaves to work off the debt. This is one reason why I have seven children. If I got into financial trouble then I could say, “Take those two right there. Beside I’ve got five left over.” You say, “Which two?” Depends on the day. Ok, I’m just teasing!

This young man lost a valuable and borrowed tool. This was more than just embarrassing, this could be a life changing event for the worse. Losing this ax head, was really a big deal.

If it matters to me, it matters to God

So, when I see God making this ax head float, it reminds me of the powerful principle, if it matters to me, it matters to God. If it’s on your heart, then it’s on God’s heart. God cares about the details of your life which is mind blowing when you think about the God of the universe who controls everything cares about you losing an ax head. He cares about what you did not mean to lose.

I want to ask you a question, What have you lost that God wants to restore? What is something special that means something to you, meant something to you that you once had that you don’t have right now, something you have lost that God wants to restore?

As your pastor and friend, I want to be clear here. I’m not talking about something you lost that is permanent. You have lost a loved one (a child, a husband, a wife, a parent, a friend) and they have passed away. I’m not talking about that. That’s a whole another thing that we can pray for healing about and that is heartbreaking. I’m not talking about that.

I’m talking about something that is still recoverable. You lost something that can still be restored.

You lost a relationship with someone over politics or some petty disagreement.
You lost your joy and cynicism took its place.
You have lost respect from your children. You did something or they think you did something that has caused them to lose respect and admiration for you.
You have lost your peace. You used to be calm on the inside, but now you are anxious most of the time. You didn’t intend to lose these things, but you did.
You have lost the sense of God’s presence. You used to feel God’s presence and feel close to Him, but not anymore. You lost something.
Maybe you lost your hope for the future.
Maybe you lost your fire for God. You used to love studying God’s Word and talking about God’s Word and learning more of God’s Word and sharing Jesus with others, but you lost that fire somewhere. You have lost your spiritual passion. You didn’t intend to lose these things, but you did.
You have lost your trust in someone. You have lost your trust in your spouse, a friend, a parent. You find it hard to believe them anymore or to depend on them to be there for you.
Maybe you lost your reputation. Maybe you had a reputation for loving God, sharing the gospel, doing ministry, and living for Jesus, but you made a wrong decision or series of wrong decision that now has marred your reputation. People used to see you as this godly person, but now they think of you as something else. You didn’t intend to lose your reputation, but you did.
Maybe you have lost your drive for holiness. You now easily give into a lifestyle and pattern of sin. You don’t have the drive to truly honor God with your life and repent of the sins in your life. You have lost that drive and commitment to godliness. You didn’t intend to lose these things, but you did.

You didn’t intend to lose it. But I want to remind of this truth, Our God specializes in restoring what was lost. Our God is a good God and He can help you get back what you did not mean to lose. You may ask, “How does God do that? How does God restore what I didn’t mean to lose?” Let me share with you two thoughts from this story.

Where did it fall?

First, be honest about where you lost it. Where did you lose it? In verse 6, we see this, Elisha asked the young man, “Where did it fall?” and then we are told that the young man “showed him the place.” Where did you lose the ax head? Be honest about where you lost it.

Where did you lose your joy for the Lord?
Where did you lose your reputation?
Where did you lose your peace?
Where did you lose your passion for God?
Where did you lose your trust in that person?

Why did Elisha ask this question? Because recovery starts with honesty. Be honest where you lost it, why you lost it, and when you lost it. If you lost something that matters to you, when did you lose it, why did you lose it? Let me give you some thoughts to help open you up to what God might want to say to you today.

You might say this, I lost my way, when I got into a relationship that I should have never gotten into. Maybe you started dating someone who pushed you or maybe you pushed them to do things that you know you shouldn’t have done and took you to places that you shouldn’t have gone or you developed a friendship with a group of people that instead of sharpening you and drawing you closer to God, took you into things that were ultimately destructive for you spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. God’s Word is real clear that bad company corrupts good character. And maybe you lost your way when you entered into a relationship that you shouldn’t have.
Maybe you say, I lost my freedom when my secret habit took control of my life. That thing you thought, “Hey, it’s no one else’s business. It’s no big deal. I mean it’s not hurting anybody.” Until it started hurting you. And now you are a prisoner to it.
You might say, I lost my peace when I held onto a hurt instead of giving it to God. You decided to hold a grudge, started hating and allowed bitterness to develop. Instead of releasing it, forgiving them, and trusting God you took things into your own hands. You lost your peace.
You might say I lost my contentment. You became unhappy. You lost your happiness for life, for your marriage, for you kids, or for your job. You became dissatisfied with what you God has already blessed you with.
You might say I lost my intimacy with God when I stopped making space to hear His voice. When I stopped seeking Him and letting His Word renew my mind and conform me to the image of Christ. When I stopped calling on Him, when I stopped letting Him direct my steps, when I stopped using the gifts that He had given me to make a difference in the lives of others and thought that all of a sudden life was all about me and I stopped seeking Him and serving Him.

Be honest about where you lost it, when you lost it, why you lost it. Recovery starts with honesty. Admit it. Talk to your Christian friends about it, talk to your Life Group about it. Name it, confess it. Be honest about where and why and how you lost it.

Take back what you lost

Now, the second thought. With God’s help, take back what you lost. What you did not intend to lose, get it back. By faith, obedience, and determination, take back what you lost.

Listen carefully, God will help you find what you lost. He will make it float so you can see it, but you will have to “Grab it.” Sometimes God wants you to participate in your miracle, in your provision, in your prayers being answered. We have already seen this principle in the life of Jesus a few weeks ago.

Jesus told a man with a withered hand to stretch out his hand, and he was healed.
Jesus told a blind man to wash off his eyes, and the man could see.
Jesus told a crippled man to pick up his mat and walk, and the man was healed.

Sometimes God wants you to participate in His miracle and provision for you. In other words…

Only God can send the water, but you have to dig a ditch.
Only God can multiple the oil, but He wants you to gather the empty jars.
Only God can make an ax head float, but He still wants you to grab it and lift it out of the water.

Let’s make it practical

What might this look like in your life?

Only God can restore a marriage, but you and your spouse have to grab it by obeying what God says about loving each other and making each other a priority.
Only God can restore your peace, but you have to grab it by casting all your cares upon Him.
Only God can restore your passion for Him, but you have to grab it by returning to your first love toward Him.
Only God can restore your freedom, but you have to grab it by getting help from others.
Only God can restore your reputation, but you have to grab it with faithfulness, perseverance, and dedication to holiness and godliness.

Our God is a God of restoration! Your ax head may be at the bottom of the lake, but God can resurrect it back up, but you will need to grab it. Our God is a God of restoration! We have a very kind and gracious God. God’s Word tells us in 1 Peter 5:10, “And the God of all grace… will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (NIV). The God of all grace, all power, all wisdom, all love, and all mercy “will himself restore” what you did not mean to lose.

Conclusion

So let’s go back to the original question, “What have you lost that God wants to restore?”

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