Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PICNIC (07/14/22)
-
TITLE: Wilderness Winged Courier Service | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dale Buchanan
07/21/22 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
The king’s court knew clearly that the prophesied drought was because of their idolatry. They trembled as they thought of the devastation of little or no food or water for their families.
This man, the prophet Elijah, was hairy with a leather girdle around his waist. His clothing was probably camel’s hair, unlike the rich garments of those around Ahab’s throne.
Elijah was a “mountain man” from the rocky, mountainous, largely uninhabited area of Gilead east of Jordan. He was not trying to impress anyone.
God had given him a mission with some extraordinary instructions. A man of lesser faith might have wavered and refused to obey.
Immediately Elijah became well-known and was a marked man! The king and his forces began to search the country for him in a massive man-hunt.
God told him to hide by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan River! And he had obeyed. For several months, his new picnic ground home was in the middle of the wilderness.
Ahab’s evil actions triggered God’s message of judgment! Ahab had married Jezebel, the heathen princess daughter of Eth-Baal, king of Zidon. Her anti-Jew influence and power over Ahab were mind-boggling.
Jezebel issued orders to slay the prophets of Jehovah. She had persuaded him, contrary to all Jewish history and law, to set up a temple, an altar to Baal, and a grove for the immoral orgies of the goddess, Ashtoreth. Under her influence, Israel now supported 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Astarte.
It was a danger-filled time with death threats for Elijah and other prophets of Jehovah. But God was working his purpose and plan for Israel and Elijah.
For Israel, the purpose was judgment: not only drought and physical famine but also a famine of the Word of God. Elijah left the land, and the other prophets of Jehovah were in hiding. No one was visibly remaining to preach the Word.
God had intensive lessons and preparation ahead for Elijah. He was not in hiding merely for safety.
During this quiet time, in solitude, Elijah would come to know God intimately. He would learn what it meant to have absolute trust in the Lord.
The brook Cherith would dry up within a few months. Elijah had to trust the Lord for water during and after Cherith.
For his picnic meals, Elijah had to rely on God and the strange food courier service by the ravens. Why ravens? Ravens are large black birds, similar to crows, with a wingspan up to 50 inches. God designated them as unclean. They feed on dead, decaying meat and some live prey! God commanded the ravens to bring him food fit to eat, both morning and night. How could Elijah trust them for regular, twice-daily service and sanitary food? But he did, and God kept His Word.
Elijah was about to learn the lesson of I Corinthians 1:27(KJV). ”God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”
God created heaven and earth and formed every living creature. Can He guide the ravens, that He made, to find clean food? Is He able to put a feeding schedule in their brains?
Why didn’t God provide him with a continuous source of water instead of a brook that would dry up? Why did the ravens only bring enough food to last from morning until evening and from evening till morning? Why not a week’s store of food instead of a twelve-hour supply?
In Jesus’ model prayer for His disciples, He taught them to pray, “Give us THIS DAY our DAILY bread.” One day at a time, we, and Elijah, are to trust the Lord for our provision.
God is trustworthy – and omnipotent. He created heaven and earth and the universe out of nothing. Every beast, every fowl, every fish, every creeping thing, and all plant life came into existence by Him. The Creator is the God who was taking care of Elijah and the God who takes care of us. Trust Him!
Source: I Kings 17 (KJV)
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
