By: Reverend J. Loren Russell
1 Kings 17:1-7 NKJV
“And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.”
Where God guides, He provides! I’m sure you have heard that before. You may have even been the recipient of God’s gracious provisions. As good as it sounds and as blessed as we are when God lavishes us with His provisions, the truth of the matter is that many times His provision is difficult to receive.
In the text, Elijah delivers devastating news from God the Father to king Ahab. He tells him of a pending natural disaster that will overtake the land and persist for three years. No one would be exempt from the consequences of the drought, not even Elijah.
Elijah was a foreigner to the land of Gilead. He was from the land of Tish but he was chosen to tell the king there will be no rain in the land of Gilead…, for three years! After delivering that harsh message, the Lord tells him to vacate his present residence and journey down to the Brook Cherith. That is where the Lord would provide for him.
But God’s provision would not come easy. This is the beginning of his running from the evil king Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel. Elijah would drink from the Brook of Cherith and scavengers would feed him until the brook runs dry.
Where God guides, He will provide! But it’s not always the tastiest meal on the menu. The delivery may not be to your liking. But that is where your blessings are. Had Elijah stayed where he was, he would have had no food or water. In order to be the recipient of God’s provision, you have to be where He directs you.
Elijah knew it was time to move when the Lord told him to go. He didn’t argue, push back, or refuse, he got up and went. Had he done anything but go, he would have suffered from the same severe drought as everyone else. He was told to go, and he went!
When do we recognize when it’s time for us to go? Does it require something as drastic as a drought? In the book of Matthew, the disciples were also told to “go!” They were told to go to every hill and every valley, every city, and every nation. The Bible is replete with stories of the challenges the disciples encountered as they went. Some of their experiences were as grueling or worse than those Elijah faced. Yet, each “go” story also shows the blessings they, and those to whom they were sent, received because of their obedience.
Obedience to the call to “go,” has residual benefits. Elijah was commanded to leave the Brook of Cherith and go to Zarephath where he blessed a widow and her son. The church of today are recipients of the disciples’ obedience to the commandment to “go.”
All I am saying, and what I am encouraging you to do, is be ready, willing, and able, when it’s time to go!
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177)
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