If the young man desired to have the ax returned, he also had a part to play. God could have caused the ax not only to swim but to return to its original position on the wood. But the Lord generally does not perform miracles for men in things they can do for themselves. The young man was perfectly able to reach out into the water and recover the floating ax, and that he was directed to do. When God asks us to take, His gifts will be ours when we reach out to receive. Disobedience and unbelief keep from us many of the greatest blessings of God.