September 2, 2025 • 23 mins
# 228 - Elisha & The Floating Axe - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, a borrowed axe sinks in the Jordan and an army surrounds the city—but Elisha shows that God cares for both the smallest loss and the greatest threat. This is a story of trust, vision, and the unseen power that lifts what we thought was gone.
Episode 228 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/who-we-are?utm_source=pray
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Job 5:9, He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app.
Show Notes:
(01:11) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:00) Elisha & The Floating Axe
(21:44) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Because the error by itself is nothing. It's weak, it's podetic.
But if that same error rests in the hands of
his killed archer.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
It flies true.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
I have never been powerful, Elosia.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I have never been green. I am an old, tired man.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
The wind stirred, Elisha sucked in a sharp breath. The
river whispered before him, waiting. The choice was his. He exhaled, stood,
stepped forward, and lifted the mantle high. His voice rang out,
steady and unchanged, but no longer uncertain.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Joseph
and Moses, Oh God of Elijah, my God, I I'm
your servant, Show me your.
Speaker 6 (01:07):
Power Shelloh my friends, from here in the holy Land
of Israel, i'm ya l Extein with the International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People.
Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible,
stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the
(01:30):
meaning of life. Through Israel's story, we will find this
truth that we are all chosen for something great. So
take a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're
feeling extra grateful for these stories. We would love it
if you left us a review. I read every single
one of them, and if you're interested in hearing more
(01:52):
about the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you
can visit IFCJ dot Org. Let's begin.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
The sound of axes striking wood rang out across the
Jordan River. It was the kind of sound that would
have been satisfying under different circumstances, maybe even meditative, but
to day it carried the undeniable undercurrent of inexperience. The
Guild of Prophets was not built for this kind of labor.
(02:26):
These were not craftsmen or soldiers. They were dreamers, scribes
and thinkers, young men learning to hear the voice of God.
It was a discipleship's school of sorts, though calling it
a school was generous. The students worked under the merciless sun,
sweat dripping into their eyes as they swung their axes
(02:49):
with all the grace of men who had never chopped
a tree in their lives. The air was heavy with
the earthy scent of wood and the occasional grunt of frustration.
Standing a safe distance away, Elisha leaned against a rock,
his staff in hand, supervising with the ease of a
man who had absolutely no intention of helping.
Speaker 7 (03:13):
That's Elisha.
Speaker 8 (03:15):
Do you think this is what a larger head in
mind when he has dismantlety?
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Elisha smirked, a faint glimmer of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
If you think this is beneath you, Ruben, wait until
I send you to dig ditches.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
You missed the glamour of tree cutting.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
One of the younger students snorted at this, nearly loosing
his grip on his axe in the process. The blade
grazed the trunk, awkwardly, sending a spray of splinters into
the air. Why do you even need to expand the
house anyway?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
It's fine as it is.
Speaker 9 (03:50):
It's fine for you, But you're not the one sleeping
next to Ruben and he's snoring. It's like trying to
sleep next to a bullfrog.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
He's not snoring.
Speaker 10 (04:00):
It's prophetic breathing.
Speaker 9 (04:02):
If it's prophetic breathing, then yahweh must be very annoyed.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
The group burst into laughter, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Even
Elisha chuckled softly, brushing the dust from his robe with
an air of mock patience.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Enough whining your prophets of yahweh not poets writing lamentations
about how hard.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Your life is. We need the wood, so keep chopping.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
The laughter faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of axes.
Once more, Keisha muttered something under his breath, earning another
smirk from Reuben. Elisha watched them with a faint smile,
as though enjoying a private joke they couldn't yet understand.
Keisha was Elisha's apprentice, chosen by the prophet himself, though
(04:52):
no one could quite figure out why. Wiry and sharp
tongued Keisha had a knack for asking questions that walk
the line between curious and insubordinate. If Elisha found him exasperating,
he didn't show it. In fact, he seemed to enjoy
the boy's energy. He reminded him of his master.
Speaker 9 (05:14):
Master Elisha, I think that Jordan just swallowed my body
weight in sweat. Does this count as a baptism?
Speaker 5 (05:22):
No, But if you keep swinging like that, it might
count as your funeral.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Heh is just mad because he's the worst x men here.
Speaker 9 (05:29):
That's because I didn't come here to chop trees, Reuben.
I came here to learn how to hear Yahweh's voice.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
And do you think Yahweh's voice is going to make
you a bigger house, because if it does, you're not
hearing Yahweh, You're hearing your own wishful thinking.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
The students laughed, though some of them were clearly more
focused on lots splitting their own feet open than on
Elisha's wit. Keisha, however, wasn't ready to let it go.
Speaker 9 (05:57):
You're telling me the Lord who parted this see and
brought fire down from heaven can't drop a few trees
for us.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
He is chopping trees, my boy, through the able arms
of his young prophets. Praise be to God that we
get to play a part in his noble work.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
And then, as if the Jordan itself had been waiting
for the perfect moment to interrupt, there was a sharp crack,
followed by a splash.
Speaker 9 (06:25):
Oh no, oh no, no, no, no no no.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
What did you do?
Speaker 7 (06:29):
It wasn't me?
Speaker 8 (06:30):
The axe head It full off.
Speaker 9 (06:32):
Look it's sinking.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
All eyes turned to the water. Sure enough, the iron
axe head was now disappearing into the murky depths of
the Jordan.
Speaker 8 (06:43):
Isn't it your uncle's axe?
Speaker 9 (06:45):
Yep. Why do you think I'm panicking.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Because you don't trust the Lord?
Speaker 1 (06:50):
The group turned to Elisha, who had stepped forward. His
tone was casual but pointed.
Speaker 9 (06:57):
Are you about to tell me that the Lord is
going to use the able body of his young prophet
to retrieve the axe?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I'll stop you there.
Speaker 9 (07:05):
I can't swim.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
You spend far too much energy complaining, worrying and reeling
about what can't be done.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
It must be exhausting.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Elisha bent down, picking up a stick from the ground.
His students watched, their laughter fading into a tense, curious silence.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
What's that stick supposed to do?
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Sh I'm obviously trying to be a mysterious prophet.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Quit ruining my lesson with your questions. Just watch.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
With a practiced flick of his wrist, Elishah tossed the
stick into the water. The water rippled, and then, impossibly,
the iron axe head floated to the surface, bobbing as
though it were weightless.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
It's it's how is it even possible possible?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Kisha?
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Do you know the story of Moses, the man who
raised his staff and split the.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Sea in two?
Speaker 5 (08:03):
Or did you just skim over that part when you
were learning the law.
Speaker 9 (08:07):
Of course I know the story.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I just this is different.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
That's because it's an axe head, not an ocean. Yahweh
doesn't struggle with scale. The question isn't whether he can,
it's whether you actually trust him to do it. And
from the look on your face, I'd say you don't.
Speaker 7 (08:27):
Then why not summon such miracles more often? The signs
like these not convince people to turn that to the law.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
If only my Master Elijah summoned fire from heaven not once,
but twice. The people were stirred initially, but then went
back to their ways. It's not about the sign performed,
but the truth the signs communicate to us today. The
lesson given to you is about trust. Trust that the
Lord cares for the axe head, the small, insignificant things.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Keisha waded into the water slowly, his movements careful, as
though the river might demand payment, before giving the axe
head back. When his fingers closed around the iron, he
lifted it from the surface, water streaming down its sides
like tears. He turned to Elisha, his face a mixture
(09:19):
of embarrassment and wonder.
Speaker 9 (09:21):
I thought I trusted him, but maybe I didn't.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Not like this good now?
Speaker 5 (09:29):
You know, trust starts small, Kisha, like an axe head
in a river, but it doesn't stay there. One day
you need to trust him for something much bigger, your
red Sea moment, as it were. When that day comes,
remember this.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
The group stood in silence, the weight of Elisha's words
settling over them. Keisha, still clutching the dripping axe head,
stared at the prophet, his earlier frustration now replaced by or.
For a moment, the Jordan's gentle flow seemed to reflect
something greater, a reminder that God's power moved quietly beneath
(10:09):
the surface of all things. Reuben broke the silence, his
voice cutting through the stillness, but carrying a note of unease.
Speaker 10 (10:20):
Is it true what they say, that he could hear
the Lord's voice even in Benhadad's war, That you know
what the Ramians of plan before they did.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
The rumors had been whispered among the prophets for weeks,
But now, with Israel's enemies pressing harder against the nation's borders,
they felt less like gossip and more like prophecy. Elisha
raised an eyebrow, his expression hovering somewhere between amusement and exasperation.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Ah So that's what you really want to learn, not
how to trust, but how to spy.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
No, just oh, maybe a little And what would you
do with that power?
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Hmm, eavesdrop on your little enemies, or perhaps listen to.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
The walls to hear what Miriam thinks about you.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
The group burst into laughter. Elisha leaned on his staff
and surveyed the group.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
Let me tell you this, Hearing God's voice isn't about
knowing secrets for your own game. It's about trust, the
kind of trust that lets you act when he calls
and stays silent.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
When he doesn't.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
If you want that, you'd better learn to listen and
stop looking for shortcuts.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
The students fell quiet, their eyes fixed on Elisha. Somewhere
in the distance, the Jordan flowed on its waters, carrying
both the memory of the acts and the lesson that
none of them would soon forget. In the war room
of the King of Aram, the king paced like a
(12:01):
caged animal. His heavy boots echoed on the stone floor
as he gestured wildly to the array of maps and
figurines on the table before him, each one marking a
plan that had failed spectacularly. The throne nearby was studiously
ignored because sitting down implied composure, and the King of
(12:21):
Aram had none left.
Speaker 7 (12:23):
Spread it to me again, How does Juram, that weavering, spineless,
milk drinking welper the king always know what I'm planning?
Speaker 1 (12:35):
His generals, advisors, and assorted sicophants stood silently, their expressions
frozen somewhere between fear and discomfort.
Speaker 8 (12:44):
Ah Suram couldn't need a barade, but somehow he manages
to say, one step ahead of me.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
He slammed his fist onto the table, sending a figurine
of a chariot skittering across the map. The generals flinched
in unison, and one particularly unfortunate adviser let out an
audible squeak.
Speaker 7 (13:05):
Ah, a spy.
Speaker 8 (13:07):
That's the only explanation.
Speaker 7 (13:10):
There's a spy in my wreks, isn't there.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
He turned on the room like a wolf circling a
flock of sheep, his eyes narrowing at each face in turn.
Speaker 7 (13:21):
Which one of you is it who's been whispering my
plans to that overgrown child with delusions of kingship.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Your majesty, If I may, you may not.
Speaker 8 (13:35):
Unless you're about to confess, in which case, yes, by
all means speak.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
The advisor stepped forward, cautiously, like a man approaching a
very angry bear.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
It's not it's not a spy, your majesty.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
Oh no, then what is it?
Speaker 7 (13:56):
Sorcery?
Speaker 8 (13:57):
A divine intervention? Tell me Joram actually developed a spine.
It would be the first backbone in that family for generations.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
It's Elisha, your majesty, Elia, the prophet. Yes, your majesty,
it is said. He he hears things, everything, in fact,
even the words you whisper and the sounds you make
in your bedroom.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
The King's face shifted from confusion to horror, then to
a kind of mortified rage.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
In my bedroom, my private conversations, my private sounds.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
A muffled snicker escaped from somewhere in the back of
the room, though it was quickly stifled when the King's
glare swept the table like a scythe tell me where he's.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Hiding in doorphan, Your majesty, city, lightly defended, lightly defended,
you said, Then I'll make sure it's not defended at all.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Repair the army.
Speaker 8 (15:11):
If Elijah can hear my whispers, let him hear this.
I'm coming for him. I won't rest until his head
is bounded on my wall. Good now.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Then the king swept out of the room, his cloak
billowing behind him. Far away in Dothan, Elisha remained untroubled.
The prophet had already heard far more than the king realized.
Keisha hauled the bucket from the well, water sloshing over
(15:43):
the sides. The morning was quiet, the first light brushing
the hills of Dothan with gold. He exhaled, savoring the calm.
Then he heard it, a low, rhythmic thunder, hoofs marching.
The hills were alive with soldiers. Spears glinted like fire.
(16:07):
Horses snorted their breath clouds in the cool air. Chariots
stood in endless rows, dark and menacing. Keisha dropped the bucket,
Dear God. The water splashed across his feet unnoticed. Keisha
turned and ran, his heart pounding harder than the drums.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Of war Master Elijah Master.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
His voice cracked as he turned, sprinting toward Elisha, who
was standing a short distance away, leaning on his staff.
The prophet didn't even glance at the army. His gaze
was calm, steady, fixed on some distant point that Keisha
couldn't see.
Speaker 9 (16:50):
They're here, the army. They've surrounded us. There's no way out. Master.
Do you hear me?
Speaker 5 (16:58):
I hear you, Kisha. I also hear your knees knocking together.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
It's distracting.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
How are you this calm?
Speaker 9 (17:05):
Do you not see what's out there?
Speaker 3 (17:08):
I see it?
Speaker 9 (17:10):
Then? Why aren't you panicking? They'll they'll kill us, They'll
kill everyone. We are outnumbered, one hundred, no a thousand
to one.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Elisha finally turned to him, his face unreadable, but his
voice firm.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
You're wrong, what how can you? We're not outnumbered?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Keisha froze, his fear momentarily overtaken by confusion, Elisha stepped closer,
his gaze sharp, almost piercing.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
There are more on our side than theirs.
Speaker 8 (17:45):
More.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
What are you talking about? It's just us.
Speaker 9 (17:49):
The city has you, me, the other students, and a
few farmers and herders.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Keisha gestured wildly toward the hills, where the Aramian army
stood like a silent avalanche, waiting to fall. Elisha placed
a hand on his shoulder, steady and unshakable.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
Remember the Red Sea Kisher. Remember Moses standing before the
waters with Pharaoh's army at his back. Did he panic.
Did he run No, but but nothing. The Lord didn't
abandon Moses, and he hasn't abandoned us. This is your
moment of faith, Kisher, your Red Sea moment. Stop looking
(18:31):
at what frightens you and trust in what you cannot see.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Keisha's breathing slowed, but his face remained taut with fear.
Elisha closed his eyes, lifting his head toward the sky.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Lord God, open his eyes so that he might see.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
The air shifted, heavy and electric, as though the world
itself held its breath. Keisha blinked, and when he opened
his eyes again, everything was different. The hills that had
seemed full of enemies now burned with light. Horses and
chariots of fire stood upon the ridges, their forms glowing
(19:11):
with an otherworldly brilliance. The Army of Heaven surrounded the
Army of Aram, their numbers vast, their presence overwhelming. The
site was so magnificent, so utterly beyond comprehension, that Keisha
stumbled backward, his legs giving way beneath him.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
HiT's hits Yahweh's Army, Angelic beans, each with more power
and a single finger than all the armies of the
Earth combined.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
They've always been here, kish.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Are you just couldn't see them until now.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Keisha knelt on the ground, his eyes wide, tears streaming
down his face as he stared at the heavenly host.
Speaker 8 (19:56):
Master, I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
You do, remember this, Kisher.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Trust isn't about seeing, It's about believing in what you
cannot see. Jahwezoha has been fighting for his people.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
A horn blared from the Aramian camp, breaking the moment.
The enemy army began its march, their footsteps shaking the earth.
Keisha scrambled to his feet, his awe replaced by renewed panic.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
They're coming.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
What do we do now? We pray?
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Elisha stepped forward, raising his staff as the first ranks
of the Aramian army drew closer. His voice rang out,
clear and commanding, Lord.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Of Heaven's Armies, strike them with blindness.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
The shift was immediate. Soldiers stopped midcharged, stumbling and clutching
their faces. Cries of confusion rippled through the ranks as
the once mighty force dissolved in to chaos. The Aramians
groped at the air, their weapons falling uselessly to the ground.
Keisha stood frozen, his jaw slack as he watched the
(21:12):
miracle unfold or faith trust. It was all there, blooming
like fire in his chest. Elisha turned back toward the
blinded army, his staff in hand, his voice steady and.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Sure, let's go, my boy. They're not done learning their
lesson yet.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
The two walked forward, stepping into the chaos with the
confidence of men who knew exactly who was fighting for them.
Speaker 6 (21:46):
If your faith has been kindled by this podcast and
it has affected your life, we'd love it if you
left her of youew we read them, and me personally,
I cherish them as you venture forth boldly and fightfully.
I leave you with the biblical blessing from numbers sex
ivare hashem vischmurecher yah heir hashempanave ileha rocher ye sa
(22:12):
hashempanave Lechra Salon. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face shine upon you. May
he be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his
face towards you and give you peace. Amen.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
add free by downloading and subscribing to the pray dot
Com app today. This prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabaga and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yaile Estein, edited by
(22:52):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salva, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky,
and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music
(23:13):
by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie
and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin,
KAYLEB Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, Rabbi Edward Abramson, and the team
at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear
more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app,
(23:34):
available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yeile Egstein, please
rate and leave a review,
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Because the error by itself is nothing. It's weak, it's podetic.
But if that same error rests in the hands of
his killed archer.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
It flies true.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
I have never been powerful, Elosia.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I have never been green. I am an old, tired man.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
The wind stirred, Elisha sucked in a sharp breath. The
river whispered before him, waiting. The choice was his. He exhaled, stood,
stepped forward, and lifted the mantle high. His voice rang out,
steady and unchanged, but no longer uncertain.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Joseph
and Moses, Oh God of Elijah, my God, I I'm
your servant, Show me your.
Speaker 6 (01:07):
Power Shelloh my friends, from here in the holy Land
of Israel, i'm ya l Extein with the International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People.
Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible,
stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the
(01:30):
meaning of life. Through Israel's story, we will find this
truth that we are all chosen for something great. So
take a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're
feeling extra grateful for these stories. We would love it
if you left us a review. I read every single
one of them, and if you're interested in hearing more
(01:52):
about the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you
can visit IFCJ dot Org. Let's begin.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
The sound of axes striking wood rang out across the
Jordan River. It was the kind of sound that would
have been satisfying under different circumstances, maybe even meditative, but
to day it carried the undeniable undercurrent of inexperience. The
Guild of Prophets was not built for this kind of labor.
(02:26):
These were not craftsmen or soldiers. They were dreamers, scribes
and thinkers, young men learning to hear the voice of God.
It was a discipleship's school of sorts, though calling it
a school was generous. The students worked under the merciless sun,
sweat dripping into their eyes as they swung their axes
(02:49):
with all the grace of men who had never chopped
a tree in their lives. The air was heavy with
the earthy scent of wood and the occasional grunt of frustration.
Standing a safe distance away, Elisha leaned against a rock,
his staff in hand, supervising with the ease of a
man who had absolutely no intention of helping.
Speaker 7 (03:13):
That's Elisha.
Speaker 8 (03:15):
Do you think this is what a larger head in
mind when he has dismantlety?
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Elisha smirked, a faint glimmer of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
If you think this is beneath you, Ruben, wait until
I send you to dig ditches.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
You missed the glamour of tree cutting.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
One of the younger students snorted at this, nearly loosing
his grip on his axe in the process. The blade
grazed the trunk, awkwardly, sending a spray of splinters into
the air. Why do you even need to expand the
house anyway?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
It's fine as it is.
Speaker 9 (03:50):
It's fine for you, But you're not the one sleeping
next to Ruben and he's snoring. It's like trying to
sleep next to a bullfrog.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
He's not snoring.
Speaker 10 (04:00):
It's prophetic breathing.
Speaker 9 (04:02):
If it's prophetic breathing, then yahweh must be very annoyed.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
The group burst into laughter, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Even
Elisha chuckled softly, brushing the dust from his robe with
an air of mock patience.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Enough whining your prophets of yahweh not poets writing lamentations
about how hard.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Your life is. We need the wood, so keep chopping.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
The laughter faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of axes.
Once more, Keisha muttered something under his breath, earning another
smirk from Reuben. Elisha watched them with a faint smile,
as though enjoying a private joke they couldn't yet understand.
Keisha was Elisha's apprentice, chosen by the prophet himself, though
(04:52):
no one could quite figure out why. Wiry and sharp
tongued Keisha had a knack for asking questions that walk
the line between curious and insubordinate. If Elisha found him exasperating,
he didn't show it. In fact, he seemed to enjoy
the boy's energy. He reminded him of his master.
Speaker 9 (05:14):
Master Elisha, I think that Jordan just swallowed my body
weight in sweat. Does this count as a baptism?
Speaker 5 (05:22):
No, But if you keep swinging like that, it might
count as your funeral.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Heh is just mad because he's the worst x men here.
Speaker 9 (05:29):
That's because I didn't come here to chop trees, Reuben.
I came here to learn how to hear Yahweh's voice.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
And do you think Yahweh's voice is going to make
you a bigger house, because if it does, you're not
hearing Yahweh, You're hearing your own wishful thinking.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
The students laughed, though some of them were clearly more
focused on lots splitting their own feet open than on
Elisha's wit. Keisha, however, wasn't ready to let it go.
Speaker 9 (05:57):
You're telling me the Lord who parted this see and
brought fire down from heaven can't drop a few trees
for us.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
He is chopping trees, my boy, through the able arms
of his young prophets. Praise be to God that we
get to play a part in his noble work.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
And then, as if the Jordan itself had been waiting
for the perfect moment to interrupt, there was a sharp crack,
followed by a splash.
Speaker 9 (06:25):
Oh no, oh no, no, no, no no no.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
What did you do?
Speaker 7 (06:29):
It wasn't me?
Speaker 8 (06:30):
The axe head It full off.
Speaker 9 (06:32):
Look it's sinking.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
All eyes turned to the water. Sure enough, the iron
axe head was now disappearing into the murky depths of
the Jordan.
Speaker 8 (06:43):
Isn't it your uncle's axe?
Speaker 9 (06:45):
Yep. Why do you think I'm panicking.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Because you don't trust the Lord?
Speaker 1 (06:50):
The group turned to Elisha, who had stepped forward. His
tone was casual but pointed.
Speaker 9 (06:57):
Are you about to tell me that the Lord is
going to use the able body of his young prophet
to retrieve the axe?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I'll stop you there.
Speaker 9 (07:05):
I can't swim.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
You spend far too much energy complaining, worrying and reeling
about what can't be done.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
It must be exhausting.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Elisha bent down, picking up a stick from the ground.
His students watched, their laughter fading into a tense, curious silence.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
What's that stick supposed to do?
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Sh I'm obviously trying to be a mysterious prophet.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Quit ruining my lesson with your questions. Just watch.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
With a practiced flick of his wrist, Elishah tossed the
stick into the water. The water rippled, and then, impossibly,
the iron axe head floated to the surface, bobbing as
though it were weightless.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
It's it's how is it even possible possible?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Kisha?
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Do you know the story of Moses, the man who
raised his staff and split the.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Sea in two?
Speaker 5 (08:03):
Or did you just skim over that part when you
were learning the law.
Speaker 9 (08:07):
Of course I know the story.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I just this is different.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
That's because it's an axe head, not an ocean. Yahweh
doesn't struggle with scale. The question isn't whether he can,
it's whether you actually trust him to do it. And
from the look on your face, I'd say you don't.
Speaker 7 (08:27):
Then why not summon such miracles more often? The signs
like these not convince people to turn that to the law.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
If only my Master Elijah summoned fire from heaven not once,
but twice. The people were stirred initially, but then went
back to their ways. It's not about the sign performed,
but the truth the signs communicate to us today. The
lesson given to you is about trust. Trust that the
Lord cares for the axe head, the small, insignificant things.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Keisha waded into the water slowly, his movements careful, as
though the river might demand payment, before giving the axe
head back. When his fingers closed around the iron, he
lifted it from the surface, water streaming down its sides
like tears. He turned to Elisha, his face a mixture
(09:19):
of embarrassment and wonder.
Speaker 9 (09:21):
I thought I trusted him, but maybe I didn't.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Not like this good now?
Speaker 5 (09:29):
You know, trust starts small, Kisha, like an axe head
in a river, but it doesn't stay there. One day
you need to trust him for something much bigger, your
red Sea moment, as it were. When that day comes,
remember this.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
The group stood in silence, the weight of Elisha's words
settling over them. Keisha, still clutching the dripping axe head,
stared at the prophet, his earlier frustration now replaced by or.
For a moment, the Jordan's gentle flow seemed to reflect
something greater, a reminder that God's power moved quietly beneath
(10:09):
the surface of all things. Reuben broke the silence, his
voice cutting through the stillness, but carrying a note of unease.
Speaker 10 (10:20):
Is it true what they say, that he could hear
the Lord's voice even in Benhadad's war, That you know
what the Ramians of plan before they did.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
The rumors had been whispered among the prophets for weeks,
But now, with Israel's enemies pressing harder against the nation's borders,
they felt less like gossip and more like prophecy. Elisha
raised an eyebrow, his expression hovering somewhere between amusement and exasperation.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Ah So that's what you really want to learn, not
how to trust, but how to spy.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
No, just oh, maybe a little And what would you
do with that power?
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Hmm, eavesdrop on your little enemies, or perhaps listen to.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
The walls to hear what Miriam thinks about you.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
The group burst into laughter. Elisha leaned on his staff
and surveyed the group.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
Let me tell you this, Hearing God's voice isn't about
knowing secrets for your own game. It's about trust, the
kind of trust that lets you act when he calls
and stays silent.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
When he doesn't.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
If you want that, you'd better learn to listen and
stop looking for shortcuts.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
The students fell quiet, their eyes fixed on Elisha. Somewhere
in the distance, the Jordan flowed on its waters, carrying
both the memory of the acts and the lesson that
none of them would soon forget. In the war room
of the King of Aram, the king paced like a
(12:01):
caged animal. His heavy boots echoed on the stone floor
as he gestured wildly to the array of maps and
figurines on the table before him, each one marking a
plan that had failed spectacularly. The throne nearby was studiously
ignored because sitting down implied composure, and the King of
(12:21):
Aram had none left.
Speaker 7 (12:23):
Spread it to me again, How does Juram, that weavering, spineless,
milk drinking welper the king always know what I'm planning?
Speaker 1 (12:35):
His generals, advisors, and assorted sicophants stood silently, their expressions
frozen somewhere between fear and discomfort.
Speaker 8 (12:44):
Ah Suram couldn't need a barade, but somehow he manages
to say, one step ahead of me.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
He slammed his fist onto the table, sending a figurine
of a chariot skittering across the map. The generals flinched
in unison, and one particularly unfortunate adviser let out an
audible squeak.
Speaker 7 (13:05):
Ah, a spy.
Speaker 8 (13:07):
That's the only explanation.
Speaker 7 (13:10):
There's a spy in my wreks, isn't there.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
He turned on the room like a wolf circling a
flock of sheep, his eyes narrowing at each face in turn.
Speaker 7 (13:21):
Which one of you is it who's been whispering my
plans to that overgrown child with delusions of kingship.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Your majesty, If I may, you may not.
Speaker 8 (13:35):
Unless you're about to confess, in which case, yes, by
all means speak.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
The advisor stepped forward, cautiously, like a man approaching a
very angry bear.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
It's not it's not a spy, your majesty.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
Oh no, then what is it?
Speaker 7 (13:56):
Sorcery?
Speaker 8 (13:57):
A divine intervention? Tell me Joram actually developed a spine.
It would be the first backbone in that family for generations.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
It's Elisha, your majesty, Elia, the prophet. Yes, your majesty,
it is said. He he hears things, everything, in fact,
even the words you whisper and the sounds you make
in your bedroom.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
The King's face shifted from confusion to horror, then to
a kind of mortified rage.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
In my bedroom, my private conversations, my private sounds.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
A muffled snicker escaped from somewhere in the back of
the room, though it was quickly stifled when the King's
glare swept the table like a scythe tell me where he's.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Hiding in doorphan, Your majesty, city, lightly defended, lightly defended,
you said, Then I'll make sure it's not defended at all.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Repair the army.
Speaker 8 (15:11):
If Elijah can hear my whispers, let him hear this.
I'm coming for him. I won't rest until his head
is bounded on my wall. Good now.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Then the king swept out of the room, his cloak
billowing behind him. Far away in Dothan, Elisha remained untroubled.
The prophet had already heard far more than the king realized.
Keisha hauled the bucket from the well, water sloshing over
(15:43):
the sides. The morning was quiet, the first light brushing
the hills of Dothan with gold. He exhaled, savoring the calm.
Then he heard it, a low, rhythmic thunder, hoofs marching.
The hills were alive with soldiers. Spears glinted like fire.
(16:07):
Horses snorted their breath clouds in the cool air. Chariots
stood in endless rows, dark and menacing. Keisha dropped the bucket,
Dear God. The water splashed across his feet unnoticed. Keisha
turned and ran, his heart pounding harder than the drums.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Of war Master Elijah Master.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
His voice cracked as he turned, sprinting toward Elisha, who
was standing a short distance away, leaning on his staff.
The prophet didn't even glance at the army. His gaze
was calm, steady, fixed on some distant point that Keisha
couldn't see.
Speaker 9 (16:50):
They're here, the army. They've surrounded us. There's no way out. Master.
Do you hear me?
Speaker 5 (16:58):
I hear you, Kisha. I also hear your knees knocking together.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
It's distracting.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
How are you this calm?
Speaker 9 (17:05):
Do you not see what's out there?
Speaker 3 (17:08):
I see it?
Speaker 9 (17:10):
Then? Why aren't you panicking? They'll they'll kill us, They'll
kill everyone. We are outnumbered, one hundred, no a thousand
to one.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Elisha finally turned to him, his face unreadable, but his
voice firm.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
You're wrong, what how can you? We're not outnumbered?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Keisha froze, his fear momentarily overtaken by confusion, Elisha stepped closer,
his gaze sharp, almost piercing.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
There are more on our side than theirs.
Speaker 8 (17:45):
More.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
What are you talking about? It's just us.
Speaker 9 (17:49):
The city has you, me, the other students, and a
few farmers and herders.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Keisha gestured wildly toward the hills, where the Aramian army
stood like a silent avalanche, waiting to fall. Elisha placed
a hand on his shoulder, steady and unshakable.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
Remember the Red Sea Kisher. Remember Moses standing before the
waters with Pharaoh's army at his back. Did he panic.
Did he run No, but but nothing. The Lord didn't
abandon Moses, and he hasn't abandoned us. This is your
moment of faith, Kisher, your Red Sea moment. Stop looking
(18:31):
at what frightens you and trust in what you cannot see.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Keisha's breathing slowed, but his face remained taut with fear.
Elisha closed his eyes, lifting his head toward the sky.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Lord God, open his eyes so that he might see.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
The air shifted, heavy and electric, as though the world
itself held its breath. Keisha blinked, and when he opened
his eyes again, everything was different. The hills that had
seemed full of enemies now burned with light. Horses and
chariots of fire stood upon the ridges, their forms glowing
(19:11):
with an otherworldly brilliance. The Army of Heaven surrounded the
Army of Aram, their numbers vast, their presence overwhelming. The
site was so magnificent, so utterly beyond comprehension, that Keisha
stumbled backward, his legs giving way beneath him.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
HiT's hits Yahweh's Army, Angelic beans, each with more power
and a single finger than all the armies of the
Earth combined.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
They've always been here, kish.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Are you just couldn't see them until now.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Keisha knelt on the ground, his eyes wide, tears streaming
down his face as he stared at the heavenly host.
Speaker 8 (19:56):
Master, I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
You do, remember this, Kisher.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Trust isn't about seeing, It's about believing in what you
cannot see. Jahwezoha has been fighting for his people.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
A horn blared from the Aramian camp, breaking the moment.
The enemy army began its march, their footsteps shaking the earth.
Keisha scrambled to his feet, his awe replaced by renewed panic.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
They're coming.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
What do we do now? We pray?
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Elisha stepped forward, raising his staff as the first ranks
of the Aramian army drew closer. His voice rang out,
clear and commanding, Lord.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Of Heaven's Armies, strike them with blindness.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
The shift was immediate. Soldiers stopped midcharged, stumbling and clutching
their faces. Cries of confusion rippled through the ranks as
the once mighty force dissolved in to chaos. The Aramians
groped at the air, their weapons falling uselessly to the ground.
Keisha stood frozen, his jaw slack as he watched the
(21:12):
miracle unfold or faith trust. It was all there, blooming
like fire in his chest. Elisha turned back toward the
blinded army, his staff in hand, his voice steady and.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Sure, let's go, my boy. They're not done learning their
lesson yet.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
The two walked forward, stepping into the chaos with the
confidence of men who knew exactly who was fighting for them.
Speaker 6 (21:46):
If your faith has been kindled by this podcast and
it has affected your life, we'd love it if you
left her of youew we read them, and me personally,
I cherish them as you venture forth boldly and fightfully.
I leave you with the biblical blessing from numbers sex
ivare hashem vischmurecher yah heir hashempanave ileha rocher ye sa
(22:12):
hashempanave Lechra Salon. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face shine upon you. May
he be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his
face towards you and give you peace. Amen.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
add free by downloading and subscribing to the pray dot
Com app today. This prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabaga and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yaile Estein, edited by
(22:52):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salva, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky,
and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music
(23:13):
by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie
and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin,
KAYLEB Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, Rabbi Edward Abramson, and the team
at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear
more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app,
(23:34):
available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yeile Egstein, please
rate and leave a review,
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