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The first of the great prophets of the Old Testament was Elijah. He was a monumental figure. His calling was to supply Israel's king with the very words, the very judgements of God, and the particular king, who was deliberately deaf to God, thus became Elijah's target in reaching the whole nation. His epic encounter with the prophets of Baal on Carmel was one of the hinges of history. His massive ministry, heralding the arrival of the great historic phenomena, the prophets of Israel, began with the simplest and most profound of lessons: that of learning to live by faith.
The message that he gave to the king was of disaster. There would be no rain and no moisture for three years. This was God withholding his blessing in order to bring the idolatrous nation to its senses. This certainly got the king's attention, and all the people's too, but as is usually the case, the king supposed that to get rid of the messenger would change the message. So Elijah had to beware and survive the very drought he prophesied. His life was in danger.He was led to go east of Jordan and take refuge in the Kerith Ravine, and there in that desolate spot he would be provided for by God.
Now that's the first lesson -always. If God calls you to do something, he provides the means for doing it. It's called 'Living by Faith', and do you know? it works! The Bible says, "He drank from the brook Kerith, and that the ravens brought him food morning and evening (I Kings Chapter 17). We don't know any more than that. Some scholars say it's a mis-translation and should read the Arabians fed him, but that's only because they did not believe that God can use his wild creatures to take care of those people who trust God. You know he can don't you? Even when God says No to what you want, He never denies what you need.
Paul says:Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." IICorinthians 12: 8, 9
P.S. A man once said - you doubt that God can turn water into wine? Why He's turned beer into furniture in our home.
A Prayer:
"We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life" (from the General Thanksgiving).
Now read Genesis 14: 1-40.
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