The Wood Made All the Difference: An Old Testament Picture of the Cross

God Cares: How 2 Kings 6 Shows His Provision

One of the more unusual stories in the Bible is found in 2 Kings 6: 1-7. This story tells of Elisha making an ax head float. At first glance it seems a little odd, almost magical. Why would this story have enough significance to be written about? The wood made all the difference—but why? Because among its layered meanings is a foreshadowing of the cross. First, let's read the story.

"And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.” Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.” So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it."

There are three meanings in this passage. The simplest one is that God cares and provides for us in the smallest detail. The ax head was an expensive and difficult to replace item. The man was worried, "Alas, it was borrowed." What to do? Elisha, the great prophet, hearing his plea performs a miracle and retrieves the ax head.

Listen to God’s Messenger: Obedience Brings Blessing

The second meaning is a little more complex. Elisha and his prophets lived in a time when the worship of Baal had become very popular. The king, at the time, thought it was just fine to allow the worship of both the God of Moses and Baal. Elisha came to say no! There was no compromise with God. The worship of Baal must come to an end because it was idolatry.

Israel must listen to Elisha, heed his words and return to God. If they listened to Elisha the nation of Israel would stay safe and secure, but if not they would experience invasion and all that went with that. If they listened to Elisha, they could build, grow, and expand their place in the future. Just as the man in the story listened to Elisha and had a good outcome, so the nation of Israel would as well. God has spoken, let us listen to Him as these men did Elisha.

The Wood Foreshadows the Cross: God’s Redemption in Action

The third meaning is in light of the future. The third meaning of this story foretells a time when wood would become significant. The wood was a prefiguring or foreshadowing concerning the cross of Christ! Elisha didn't just throw anything into the river, he threw wood. The Jordan River represented spiritual rebirth and salvation.

The Jordan is more than a river; it symbolizes a passage from the old life into a new life with God. Its waters are not just physical but spiritual, a theme fulfilled when Christ Himself was baptized in the Jordan, rising to inaugurate salvation for all who trust Him. Just as the Israelites crossed it to enter the Promised Land, and Christ was baptized there, the ax head rising from the Jordan points to God’s power to restore and redeem, foreshadowing the life-changing work of the cross.

Crossing the Jordan signified overcoming death. Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, coming out of its depths and indicating to us that we would die to self and rise with Christ, just as He would die and rise again. Because of the wood of the cross we will one day rise to meet our Savior, as the ax head rose, seemingly impossibly from the river's depths and I will sing the wondrous story. My wondrous story that he wood made all the difference.

The Wood Made All the Difference: Restoration Comes From God

We see this foreshadowing again in Exodus 15. In this passage the children of Israel are complaining to Moses that they have no water to drink. They don't ask God for help; they ask a man. In verse 25(a) Moses does what the people will not do, he cries out to God.

"So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet."

Again, this is no magic trick. The wood of the tree, like Calvary's Cross, made what was bitter, sweet. Through His grace we rely on our Savior for healing, for turning bitterness to joy, and turning problems into promises.

One day, like the man with the borrowed ax head, we may say, "Alas". But thanks be to God, the wood made all the difference.

Enjoy the beautiful hymn, Love Lifted Me, sung by Alan Jackson here.

The Wood Made All the Difference