Reading Portion: 1 Kings 17:1-14
With the command and valor of GOD, Elijah came to King Ahab and prophesied before him: “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (Vs. 1). We see no explanations or clarifications about this prophecy. But it is sure that King Ahab had understood the reason for the same. Sometimes, GOD leads us to speak like this – no explanations or questions.
Elijah describes GOD in two words, “The GOD of Israel”, “whom I serve”. He was telling Ahab that there is only one true GOD in Israel and that He is the one whom he serves. He was firm in his faith and was sure about his call.
Elijah conveyed this prophecy without a second thought, even about himself. GOD had not yet revealed to him about how he would survive through the days without dew or rain. He was a fool in the eyes of the people as he conveyed things even by neglecting his own comforts. All he cared was to please GOD who had called him. When we stand for GOD, He will take care of us. GOD wants us to think like Him and to think out of the box. Where we see no resources, He will provide His provisions.
A step of obedience is always followed by a comforting word from the LORD: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” (Vs. 3). The words from GOD contained a clear direction about the protection and the provision that Elijah was going to get. The step began by leaving the place where he was at that point. We have to move ahead, according to His guidance in the faith season. Following His command blindly makes our lives easy, because it makes us depend on Him, more than relying on our limited understanding. GOD directed him to the Ravine of Kerith. (A ravine is a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.) Sometimes, GOD makes us leave our comfort zones and leads us to places we least expect. We may expect to reach a higher position or place after we proclaim the word of GOD with valor and power. But GOD may lead us to a place where we think that we won’t fit in.
We compare things based on our understanding and we get depressed when our expectations are not met in His will. Have a heart to accept His will over our expectations. GOD always has the perfect plan for us. We may think of plan A, plan B or plan C. But GOD always has a plan A and we are safe in His plan. We only need to submit our life to Him, to be used for His glory.
“Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.” GOD was teaching Elijah about leading a hidden life. Soon after the climate changed, King Ahab might have started searching for Elijah- maybe to find a solution or to bring harm to Elijah. GOD didn’t want to expose His prophet to the ungodly king. The hidden life separates us from every tie we have. It is just like keeping a low profile in life. Sometimes GOD commands us to be away from the crowd and to hide in the Ravine of Kerith to taste His provision and to know Him more.
Kerith means “to cut off”, “to cut down”. GOD wanted Elijah to be hidden while He was shaping him in the ravine. GOD doesn’t want to expose what He is doing on us. Yes, GOD was chiseling away the things that were not according to His will from Elijah’s life. When GOD speaks to us to lead a hidden life, be prepared to be chiseled by Him. His works are perfect, and we will come out precious from the Ravine of Kerith.
The faith season makes us follow each and every instruction given by GOD. As Elijah went through this training phase, GOD gave him another instruction regarding the food there: “You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” (Vs. 4). Though you are unable to see His ways, He has already directed your provisions. We may not have a crystal-clear answer to people’s questions; but remember, GOD has directed people to nourish you in the faith season. He will guard your life from all dangers, and He will provide for you, even your minute needs. Though the food from the raven may seem little, it has enough nutrients for nourishment and for all the basic metabolisms of the body. He commands resources for all the needs of your life. Though the funds seem little, praise GOD for what you have at hand. He is an unchanging GOD who fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes.
As Mother Teresa said, “Little is much when GOD is in it.” If you have GOD in your limited resources, you have more than enough to get through the season. When we are ready to follow His command, we will see His miracles beyond our impossibilities.
Elijah might have been quite careful in using the resources that he received. He saw the brook getting narrower each day. He might have feared in his heart the same, but he relied on it without murmur. Days went by and the brook dried up. Though we take extreme care about the resources we have, it will dry up. It can be our money, friendships, health or even the good name we hold. How will we accept it? We may have nothing left to take a step ahead, or we may be left alone by others in this season. Even when the resources dry up, He is there to hold your hand and lead you victoriously.
It is not written there that the ravens stopped coming, but the brook dried up. GOD knew that Elijah needed both of those resources to sustain his life. When we have run out of one of the resources in our life, GOD makes us forget about the other resource as well so that we will go as per GOD’s command. Elijah could have said to GOD, “GOD, it’s just the brook. I can manage with the food from the ravens.” But, when one resource gets exhausted in your life, learn to hear His voice. Just hold on to what He has to say, rather than looking at the perishing resources that we may consider to be lifelong.
Elijah never prayed for rain even when he was seriously stricken by famine. Do not pray things that aren’t guided by GOD. Have a heart to accept what is on His heart. When we are able to submit to GOD even in our adverse situations, we will see His hand moving for us. We may be affected by the situation but remember when the ungodly are suffering from the adverse effects of the famine, GOD will equip us for a higher call in the same situation.
“Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Zidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” (Vs. 9). Zidon is a Gentile city and it was Jezebel’s place. GOD was breaking Elijah’s heart that he could accept everyone who came before him. The faith season opens our heart to accept people and to be humble in dealing with them. Follow His commands, He will bring in change.
Elijah was hiding in Kerith, but now GOD was leading him to dwell in Zidon.
When we are able to submit to GOD even in our adverse situations, we will see His hand moving for us. GOD was teaching Elijah to be strong in faith as He was preparing a Gentile family to feed him. GOD will use people whom we consider unworthy, when we are in real need. As per the command of GOD, Elijah rose and went to Zarephath.
“I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” (Vs. 9). Widows were known for their poverty and lack of money. It makes no sense to us when GOD asks us to move on to a place, which we think is barren. We may be happy with the brook of Kerith, but GOD will shut it so that He can provide for us in a better way, till the famine ends.
When Elijah reached Zarephath, he saw the widow gathering sticks. “He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”” (Vs. 10-11)
There was no sign that the widow knew that GOD had spoken to Elijah that He had directed her to feed him. When he asked for a piece of bread, she shared her situation to Elijah: “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die” (Vs. 12-13). She saw the LORD in Elijah and so she opened up her situation to him. Never open up your emptiness or depression or whatever situation you are going through, to everyone around you. Only open up before people, who can give Godly advices and solutions. She had everything in little- a handful of flour, little olive oil, few sticks, and a meal for one time.
Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 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.’” (Vs. 13-14)
Elijah was sharing his faith to her through his words: “Don’t be afraid.” We may have a plan for just a day in the famine, but GOD wants us to do a thing beyond our plans. Elijah was compelling her to take a step of faith and to bring a little bread for him first. Giving priority to the word of GOD will bring abundance in our lives. Please GOD with your limited resources so that He will open up the gates of Heaven to pour out His blessings on you. GOD will multiply the little in you when you obey Him. He will give in abundance when we are ready to open our eyes and ears to His commands. GOD chose this particular widow for His glory as she was ready to give the little she had when the prophet asked her. The word from the mouth of Elijah was the direction that GOD gave to this widow.
GOD’s direction over our life changes from situation to situation. Sometimes GOD directs to the ravens. At other times we have to follow GOD’s guidance for the provision.
The widow may have had a doubt in her mind even while preparing the meal for Elijah, but she acted as per GOD’s direction. Our words of blessing will bring an outpour in the lives of others. An act of obedience brought abundance in the widow’s life and GOD gave her a heart to care for her relatives as well. When GOD blesses you in abundance, don’t forget to care for others.
When GOD leads us out of Kerith, trust Him. When the ravine dries up, trust Him. When you see nothing but impossibilities, trust Him because trusting Him brings great reward and you will become a blessing for people who are in need.
Always be faithful in the faith season. Learn things as He directs us. His ways are perfect and we lack nothing good in His will.
