The Floating Axe Head
In 2 Kings 6:1-7, we find a fascinating story about the prophet Elisha and a group of prophets who were building a new place to live. As they were cutting down trees, one of the men accidentally dropped a borrowed axe head into the Jordan River. Distressed because it was borrowed, he cried out to Elisha. Elisha cut a stick, threw it into the water, and miraculously, the iron axe head floated to the surface. This story highlights God’s concern for even the small troubles in our lives and His power to provide solutions.
Scripture:
“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.” (2 Kings 6:6)
The Circumcision of Moses’ Son
In Exodus 4:24-26, there’s a brief but intense story about Moses. On his way back to Egypt, the Lord sought to kill him. Zipporah, Moses’ wife, quickly circumcised their son and touched Moses’ feet with the foreskin, saying, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” This act appeased the Lord, and He let Moses go. This story underscores the importance of obedience to God’s covenant.
Scripture:
“At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,’ she said. So the Lord let him alone.” (Exodus 4:24-26)
The Prophetess Huldah
In 2 Kings 22:14-20, we encounter Huldah, a prophetess during King Josiah’s reign. When the Book of the Law was found in the temple, Josiah sent his officials to consult Huldah. She delivered a message of both judgment and hope, confirming the authenticity of the book and prophesying the coming disaster due to Israel’s disobedience, but also promising peace for Josiah because of his humility.
Scripture:
“She said to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, “This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read.”’” (2 Kings 22:15-16)
The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones
In Ezekiel 37:1-14, the prophet Ezekiel is taken by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley full of dry bones. God asks him if the bones can live, and Ezekiel responds that only God knows. God then commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and as he does, the bones come together, flesh forms on them, and breath enters them, bringing them to life. This vision symbolizes the restoration of Israel and the power of God’s word to bring life to what is dead.
Scripture:
“So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.” (Ezekiel 37:7)
The Story of Jael
In Judges 4:17-22, we find the story of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. During the battle between Israel and the Canaanites, the Canaanite commander Sisera fled and sought refuge in Jael’s tent. She welcomed him, gave him milk, and covered him with a blanket. When he fell asleep, Jael took a tent peg and a hammer and drove the peg through his temple, killing him. This act of bravery led to Israel’s victory over the Canaanites.
Scripture:
“But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.” (Judges 4:21)
The Left-Handed Judge Ehud
In Judges 3:12-30, we read about Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin, who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression. Ehud crafted a double-edged sword and concealed it on his right thigh. He then presented tribute to King Eglon of Moab. When alone with the king, Ehud used his left hand to draw the sword and killed Eglon. This act led to Israel’s victory over the Moabites and 80 years of peace.
Scripture:
“Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly.” (Judges 3:21)
The Daughters of Zelophehad
In Numbers 27:1-11, the daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—approached Moses and the leaders of Israel to claim their father’s inheritance. Their father had died without sons, and they argued that his name should not disappear from his clan. God instructed Moses to grant their request, establishing a precedent for inheritance rights for women in Israel.
Scripture:
“The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They came forward.” (Numbers 27:1)
The Bronze Serpent
In Numbers 21:4-9, the Israelites complained against God and Moses during their journey in the wilderness. As a punishment, God sent venomous snakes among them, and many Israelites died. The people repented, and God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Anyone bitten by a snake could look at the bronze serpent and live. This story is later referenced by Jesus in John 3:14-15 as a symbol of His crucifixion.
Scripture:
“So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.” (Numbers 21:9)
The Prophet Micaiah
In 1 Kings 22, we find the story of Micaiah, a prophet who stood alone against 400 false prophets. King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah sought counsel about going to war against Ramoth Gilead. The false prophets assured victory, but Micaiah, after initially mocking them, delivered a true prophecy of defeat and Ahab’s death. Despite being imprisoned for his message, Micaiah’s prophecy came true, demonstrating the importance of speaking God’s truth.
Scripture:
“But Micaiah said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.’” (1 Kings 22:14)
The Widow of Zarephath
In 1 Kings 17:8-24, during a severe drought, God sent the prophet Elijah to a widow in Zarephath. Despite having only a handful of flour and a little oil, the widow obeyed Elijah’s request to make him a small loaf of bread first. Miraculously, her jar of flour and jug of oil never ran out during the drought. Later, when her son fell ill and died, Elijah prayed, and God restored the boy’s life. This story highlights God’s provision and power to bring life from death.
Scripture:
“For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” (1 Kings 17:14)
The Shunammite Woman’s Hospitality
In 2 Kings 4:8-37, we encounter a wealthy Shunammite woman who showed great hospitality to the prophet Elisha. She and her husband provided a room for Elisha whenever he passed through their town. In gratitude, Elisha prophesied that she would have a son, despite her husband’s old age. The prophecy came true, but years later, the boy died suddenly. The Shunammite woman sought Elisha, who prayed to God and miraculously restored the boy to life. This story highlights the rewards of hospitality and faith.
Scripture:
“When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord.” (2 Kings 4:32-33)
The Man of God from Judah
In 1 Kings 13, a man of God from Judah was sent to prophesy against King Jeroboam’s altar at Bethel. He performed signs to confirm his message, but was deceived by an old prophet who led him to disobey God’s command not to eat or drink in that place. As a result, the man of God was killed by a lion on his way home. This story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of obedience and discernment.
Scripture:
“The man of God said to the king, ‘Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here.’” (1 Kings 13:8)
The Siege of Samaria
In 2 Kings 6:24-7:20, Samaria was besieged by the Arameans, leading to a severe famine. The situation was so dire that people resorted to cannibalism. Elisha prophesied that the famine would end the next day. Four lepers at the city gate decided to surrender to the Arameans, only to find their camp abandoned. God had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of a great army, and they fled in panic. The lepers informed the city, and the prophecy was fulfilled as food became plentiful.
Scripture:
“The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, ‘Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?’ ‘You will see it with your own eyes,’ answered Elisha, ‘but you will not eat any of it!’” (2 Kings 7:2)
The Story of Abigail
In 1 Samuel 25, Abigail, the intelligent and beautiful wife of a wealthy but foolish man named Nabal, intervened to prevent David from taking vengeance on her household. Nabal had insulted David, who was on his way to destroy Nabal’s household. Abigail quickly gathered provisions and met David, pleading for mercy. Her wise and humble approach averted bloodshed. When Nabal learned of her actions, he had a heart attack and died. David then took Abigail as his wife.
Scripture:
“When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground.” (1 Samuel 25:23)
The Vision of the Four Beasts
In Daniel 7, Daniel has a vision of four great beasts rising from the sea, each representing a kingdom. The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings, the second like a bear, the third like a leopard with four wings and four heads, and the fourth beast was terrifying and powerful with iron teeth and ten horns. This vision, interpreted by an angel, symbolizes the rise and fall of empires and the ultimate establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.
Scripture:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.” (Daniel 7:2-3)
These stories continue to reveal the richness and complexity of the Bible, showcasing God’s intervention in human history and the importance of faith, obedience, and wisdom.
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