Weve challenged the king, lets challenge the prophets of Baal next!.. We like to be in the middle of things. Only in that most unlikely place and nowhere else, not where we would have chosen as a likely haven! Let's look at another character study on Elijah. After the ravens brought him food, he was still able to drink from the brook, indicating that it was not yet dry. How easy it is to make the service which God trusts us with a pedestal on which to display ourselves. He had water but he didn't have anything else yet God provided. It is not a declaration that He has forgotten His promise to all His people in Lam 3:22-23 that His loving-kindness will not fail, that they are new every morning. Consider Joseph God told Joseph in a dream that provision was going to dry up. God provided the brook, and God dried it up. We too know times when though we are in the will of God, and know so because we are being obedient to the Word of God, we will find things suddenly change and enjoyments evaporate. Elijah not only preached Gods Word, he practised it he went without hesitation. The first thing he did was to head for Egypt and what trouble he got into there! He was actually pro-active and he said okay, if there is going to be a famine, let's start storing our grain now to get us through. I love how Elijah boldly and confidently obeyed the voice of God in an unknown circumstance. We want to know where we are going and for how long. The Lord tells Elijah to hide by the Brook Cherith. As we are reminded in John 15 where Jesus said Abide in Me and I in you this fellowship of mutual abiding is ever our portion, and how more clearly are such times to explore and enjoy it. We are also to note that Elijah continued in the centre of Gods will for he stayed at the brook for a long period as shown by Gods fulfilment of His promise. (Our) Present Help, and Redeemer. It is one of the hardest trials that can possibly come upon us when, having been placed in the middle of comforts and just beginning to enjoy them, that we suddenly lose them. It's out of relationship that we do these things because our Master loves us and we love the Master. Thus, if he lived at Cherith for some months, and this time is added to the 2+ years he lived in Zarephath, the time mentioned by Jesus and James (3 years, 6 months) is not necessarily contradictory to the 1 Kings account. But it was potentially also a real spiritual crisis, for by faith Elijah had followed Gods directions and enjoyed Gods blessings. Emma also had the privilege of having been a national spokesperson for Mukti Mission based out of India. Every now and then a Christian cries, perhaps youve done it, Lord, what happened? He or she has been doing the Lords positive will as outlined in the Bible when suddenly disaster struck. This is because they are so relational, and they are obedient well most of the time anyway! In v.2 we read, Though great and terrifying are temporal judgements upon a people, none is so great as the removal of His Word and instruction and prayer based on that Word. Here he was to be alone for at least a year without human company. Because what she was doing there has led her to what she is doing now. Emma enjoys singing/songwriting, fitness classes, trying new recipes, home makeover shows, and drinking tea! By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. It is a spiritual law of thermodynamics: the increase of heat upon faith produces a parallel increase expansion of faith. You were getting good at doing what you were doing. As Elijah thought How come it is drying up? the answer would have come because I prayed for it! In the same why when we ask God what happened His reply is Nothing. at the end of days. If Elijah had yielded to such things his faith wouldve also dried up, and his confidence wouldve disappeared like the brook. How we should make use of the opportunities God gives us lest they be taken from us. The place chosen was a great place for hiding but a challenge to survive there. Is the Dragonborn's Breath Weapon from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons an attack? He just went and did what he was told. They naturally think, Whats going on Wheres the blessing? He went to the Kerith ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. Jesus did the same with His disciples at the end of a tour of ministry, so full were they of the joy of success of their ministry, what they had been involved in: Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while (Mk 6:31). God's faithfulness and human . ). What if we see the hard times coming in advance? He went and did what he was told. Im just answering your prayer. Youve asked, Lord make me like Your Son and thats what He is doing! And woe betide then any church or nation when God removes His Word and its servants from it. Birds of prey more likely to take meat from him (including of his bones) than to feed him. how long does it take a rat to starve to death; cowboy hat making supplies; why would i get a letter from circuit clerk; . Emma is an avid writer for Salem Web Network and provides articles on the Bible, life questions, and on the Christian lifestyle. (Luke 4:25 NLT) Most recently, Emma has released her first Bible Study Book, Wildflower: Blooming Through Singleness. We can look at Elijahs provisions and be reminded of the unique ways in which God always cares for our needs. What did he do down there? The story of Elijah in narrative style (Quoted in Chabad.org) a. He led him to something that wasn't going to last. He could do no work there, only meditate and pray. You can view her articles through her blog at emmadanzey.wordpress.com and check out her Bible Study videos on Instagram @Emmadanzey. Mukti has been working to restore shattered lives in India for over 120 years. I learned my identity was not in a relationship status with anyone but Him. So this is the second lesson. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. This may seem like a tall order, but today's believers have a similar opportunity. This is the key to Elijahs experience and life. Elijah was told to go to Cherith, immediately after he had prophesied a powerful word to King Ahab. Eleven years - that's a long time before God said 'okay let's go - now you are ready to stand before kings and before gentiles'. Let us remember that though such times may come upon us unexpectantly, but they are never unexpected to God. After he said it, God told him, "Now, go to the brook." He didn't tell Elijah what was going to happen at Cherith; he just said, "Go to the brook and hide yourself." Elijah didn't know the future, but he did have God's promise: "I'll provide for you there." There was no water! There would be none here for Elijah to be tempted to parade himself before. He can only talk about what had happened with God now that will keep the fleshly pride down! The acquisition of spiritual power is impossible unless we hide ourselves from men and from ourselves in some gorge where we may absorb the power of the eternal God (Martin). He had made provision for Elijah at Zarephath before He commanded him to leave Cherith. Can there be any richer place in this world? I reflect on the closeness and the kindness in my season as a single woman. 1 Kings 17v7-16 1. Not necessarily post annum. He would have been high on adrenalin and on grace. One step at a time. Let us remember that though such times may come upon us unexpectantly, but they are never unexpected to God. There was too much of Saul about it his desire, his enthusiasm, his determination as to what comes next and how it will be done. Like Elijah, Abraham "stood yet before the Lord" ( Gen. 18:22 ). It is what John later spoke of when in exile on Patmos he revealed that yet he had sweet communion with His Lord. Has that not been the portion of the Lords people when instead of rebelling of their isolation through the bed of sickness or cell of persecution? In this God was teaching Elijah to trust Him contrary to sight. It's like that with us. Now Baal was the god of fertility, the god of rain, and the god of the increase of their crops. God was determined that it will last for the full distance He had decreed. She said that my dog was really obedient as it was never too far away but was always watching what I was doing. But God will not share His glory, so Elijah is told to go to a lonely place. How many stalls for horses and chariots did Solomon have? By this method we find ourselves looking to Him for more, learning by easy stages the habit of obedience and trust. Let me leave you with the lyrics of a song I've come to love: We are pressed on every side, but we won't be shaken. Here's something else to consider: How did Elijah know which spot along the brook Cherith to go If the brook was ten miles long, he could have been five or ten miles away from where the ravens were bringing him food. It is against this background that now we consider v.2-6, in which we see Elijah in response to Gods instruction leaving the kings presence and going to the Brook Cherith. He led him to a place of provision, but that provision wasn't going to last. Wow, this post was made for today for a specific situation. All rights reserved. But birds carrying food wouldve aroused no interest. The poor are. After Solomon's death there was a split in the Kingdom; Jeroboam was the King in the northern kingdom of Israel and he set up alternate places of worship because he was afraid of his people going down to Jerusalem to worship. Because this is a short lesson, there is time for reviewing all of the books of the Old Testament that the students are learning so far. Gratitude opens our eyes to the goodness of God. God's provision and blessing was at Cherith. 'Come aside to a quiet place,' He said. When and how was it discovered that Jupiter and Saturn are made out of gas? 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