Borrowed Tools by Heidi Dru Kortman

Text: 2 Kings 6:1-7

“As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. ‘Oh, my lord,’ he cried out, ‘it was borrowed!’ 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. ‘Lift it out,’ he said. Then the man reached out his hand, and took it.”

This passage describes a group of able-bodied men working at a job that was appropriate and necessary. It also holds truths for us, if we look closely. Each of the sons of the prophets was needed to cut timber to construct a dwelling. Although our physical limitations inconvenience us, our contribution to the body of the church, and the world that surrounds us, is also needed to shape the world according to God’s plan.

The sons of the prophets gathered in one place to learn from Elisha. When their training was complete, they were expected to teach the Israelites to recognize and follow God’s will. As Christians, our call is no different. To be prepared, we must have several qualities: We must be willing to act. We must be willing to follow the leading provided by God through his Spirit. We must also have the appropriate tools.

One of the prophets’ sons had to borrow the axhead he used. As maturing Christians, we are beginning to understand that everything we are and have, we borrow from the God who created it, including these temporarily malfunctioning bodies. Providentially for us, our generous God has also given people great creativity to design and repair assistive devices that can make our work possible. “When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things” (Psalm 104:28). From prosthetics to wheelchairs to voice-activated computers, there is a wide range of possibilities for us all. We must ask for the help we need, and then, like the prophet’s son, reach out our hands and take it.

Heidi

Heidi Dru Kortman DTM

God's gifts and call are irrevocable.

heididrukortman.com.

Heidi Dru Kortman, a CWG Apprentice graduate, ACFW member since 2004, and Word Weaver member has published devotionals in various newsletters, and a collected volume of devotionals. Her poetry, flash fiction, and short stories have appeared in small magazines, and a website. She is applying herself to the task of writing smoothly polished fiction.