God's Massive Love Revealed in Small Miracles

The Old Testament is filled with massive miracles of God, several of which literally altered history as we know it. The parting of the Red Sea turned slaves into a nation. The walls of Jericho collapsing allowed God’s people to defeat one of the most feared and impenetrable fortress cities of their time. The Scriptures carry miracle after miracle, moment after moment of divine power.

Yet one of the smallest miracles reveals the depth of God’s love in a way that is uniquely personal.

In 2 Kings 6:1–8, we see a very normal day in the life of one of God’s very normal servants, facing a very normal problem that God solves in an incredibly miraculous way.

The group of prophets had grown too large for their current living space, so they began expanding their quarters. That meant clearing land and chopping down trees. One of the servants borrowed an ax head and went to work. At some point during the day, the ax head flew off the handle and into the water.

Immediately the servant cried out to Elisha, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.”

Elisha asked him where it fell. He then cut off a stick and threw it into the place where the ax head had sunk. In a moment of divine intervention, the iron floated to the surface, and they retrieved it.

It would be easy to read past this story and move on. Yet this moment reveals something breathtaking about the heart of God. He deeply loves His servants and cares about them on a level our human hearts struggle to understand.

God involves Himself in the hidden, unknown, ordinary details of our lives. This miracle teaches us that nothing in our lives is too small to matter to God. Scripture consistently shows us that God governs galaxies and grass blades with equal care. Jesus says not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father. He tells us the hairs of our head are numbered. He teaches us to pray for daily bread. This miracle tells us something extraordinary.

The God who commands armies and overthrows kingdoms is also the God who retrieves lost tools.

This reveals the tenderness of God. He does not only move when the problem is massive. He moves when the heart is burdened. There is no category of problem that is beneath Him. This is not small love. This is personal love.

The story also teaches us that God responds to genuine dependence, not impressive faith. 

God did not respond to strength, strategy, or spiritual performance. He responded to a burdened heart that knew only God could help. The man did not panic. He did not hide. He did not make excuses. He immediately ran to the prophet of God. In doing so, he was declaring, “Only God can help me now.”

And God did.

God will always respond to the heart that turns to Him in humble dependence.
So often, we try everything in our own strength before we ever turn to God. We exhaust ourselves searching the water. We justify the loss. We defend ourselves. We rationalize. Some even run in fear from the consequences. Most people attempt to control the moment instead of surrendering it. But the man in this story shows us a better way.

He brought his burden to God. And God revealed His heart.

God is not distant. He is near.
God is not detached. He is involved.
God is not indifferent. He is tender.

If God cares enough to recover a borrowed ax head, how much more does He care about the burdens you carry, the fears you hold, the needs you hide, and the struggles you face?

Nothing in your life is insignificant to Him. Bring Him your burden. Trust His heart. Rest in His care.

The God who makes iron float is the same God who holds your life.