God's provision was with Elijah and though hard times came and the provision in that location started to dwindle, God still had other means available for His servant if he would simply wait and be obedient upon the word of God. Weve challenged the king, lets challenge the prophets of Baal next!.. We like to be in the middle of things. 'Let's draw aside to a quiet place'. Wendy couldn't understand why God would bring her provision in that way and then allow it to be gone. The issue is neither context nor means; it is the presence of a loving, wise, purposeful, faithful God. God had spoken to this nation. British. Think of the obstacles to faith: Intentionally Biblical, Confessional, Presbyterian and Reformed, Church Planting and School of Discipleship, Philippines. [ imber, signifies heavy rain. Elijah could have thought that perhaps he should try to find a better place but this would have been a case of him trying to help God out in his own wisdom. (ii) the right perspective he waited, which evidences a deep sense of humility and dependence upon God. Normally we want a road map on life. NEW CAMPAIGN SHIRTS ARE HERE! There is no doubt a measure of foresight behind this for as the reality of the drought increasingly set in and began to cost king and nation it would be matched by an increasing hatred of Elijah. When our brook seems to dry and we are tempted to cry out Lord what happened? let us understand that God is developing us through trials; and let us understand that God is able to meet our needs even when we lose the current means He has been using and blessing us with. Had the brook not dried up, he would have stayed there. 1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. So it was in the third year of the drought that the rains came ending it. If you treat a dog properly it will actually respond to you and it will want to please you. She began with pluralism, which meant that it was alright to worship more than one God - both Yahweh and Baal it didn't seem to matter. It is here that we find ourselves most useful to the Lord and to His cause in this world. God directed him to Zarephath, the land of Sidon. For Elijah every raven visit was a reminder not only of Gods loving provision but of Gods loving presence with him as well. OBEDIENCE AND THE WILL OF GOD A) Prompt Obedience B) Perfect Obedience 3. So with Elijah he had complete dependence upon God here to survive. 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 . It is the very essence of faith to take hold of those truths and to trust implicitly in the wisdom and goodness of God especially when to our limited human wisdom and perspective everything seems to be absolutely irrational and totally out of Gods control. Life itself is a diminishing provision. 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. Sometimes you see a dog that is really unruly (some people can't even let their dog off the leash without spending a couple of hours chasing it around the park before they can catch it!) Information and translations of cherith in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. When our actions are regulated by the Word of God and our lives are lived in the centre of His will, we have nothing whatsoever to fear. This is the faith God calls us to as well. Each number is a person. On a purely physical level, it functions (unlike the Jordan) as a place far away and hidden from King Ahab who was seeking Elijah's life because of the drought. The Lord told Elijah, the man of God, to go down to the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan, where he could drink of the brook, and the ravens would bring him food. Many modern translations add "of the drought" or "of the famine," but it's not actually in the text. 'Let's get down to where things are a bit quieter and your dependence on God is more real.' Had he gone somewhere else, it would not have been where God said. 5. God had spoken to this nation. In the Bible, the brook Cherith was the place God sent Elijah to be sustained by God during the severe drought brought on Israel in the time of King Ahab. Difficult. 1 Kings was written to detail Israel's history and bring glory to God. We respond to God out of relationship. Daniel. Welcome to "Brook Cherith". Instantly the word of the Lord came to him and he was told to flee to Cherith and hide there. God provided for the whole lot. For similar articles please see the below publications. God had his reasons for isolating David and for isolating Moses and Joseph. David. - 1 Kings . God has always given me what was needed. God uses Elijah's time at the brook Cherith to teach Elijah even more about being a servant of God. On The Road With Elijah To Zarephath (Pt.1) (2 of 13) Series: On the Road with Elijah Ken Trivette 1 Kings 17:8-16 Outline 1. Such times are often a time of confusion for believers, and become a real challenge to faith. 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. Lifetime warranty! Our relationship with God is not like the army where we are told what to do so we obey, otherwise we are going to be doing 40 press ups or running around a field forever. So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. As we leave this passage are we not lifted up in our vision to see the glory of the God we are called to trust? And in that he certainly had a taste of heaven, of communion with God. (6) The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. But God will not share His glory, so Elijah is told to go to a lonely place. Did Richard Feynman say that anyone who claims to understand quantum physics is lying or crazy? Our natural inclination would be to begin to think of the next task. A Change of scenery. Elijah was not running away, he was being removed. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you" (1 Kings 17:2-9, NASB). The evidence in support of the Bible: The Lie: Evolution/Millions of Years. Our brook can be health or prosperity, or perhaps a relationship that is not going well. You don't see Elijah debating with God about the direction he should go. God was in control, He would not let His servant suffer needlessly. It was here at the drying brook that Elijah was to learn an important lesson relating to this apparent problem in the Christian life that being in the centre of Gods will doesnt exclude the possibility of crisis, so when it comes wait on the Lord and dont throw in the towel in unbelief. We think we need a GPS system which would tell us the quickest way to get where we want to be but God doesn't actually give that to us. 1 Kings 17:1-7 ESV / 4 helpful votesNot Helpful. Come what will, come what may. He said. 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. Elijah orders the people to execute the prophets of Baal at Brook Kishon. As Elijah thought. And it's true. I can imagine Elijah sitting alone by the brook when suddenly a flock of birds approaches him. Keil and Delitzsch call this the "most simple and natural" understanding: The time given, "the third year," is not to be reckoned, as the Rabbins, Clericus, Thenius, and others assume, from the commencement of the drought, but from the event last mentioned, namely, the sojourn of Elijah at Zarephath. That Elijah learned his lesson well is seen in what he said to the widow in v.13,14. by Robert Weston. This lesson plan is next in the series following Elijah confronts Ahab . A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel (1 Kings 18:45 NLT). And woe betide then any church or nation when God removes His Word and its servants from it. Or do we respond like Abraham who no sooner than he arrives in the centre of the will of God of Canaan, this land of plenty that he finds there is a severe famine? The showdown: Elijah vs the prophets of Baal! As I mentioned before, I believe that since God had already commanded the ravens, if Elijah hadn't obeyed, God would still have been . Our natural inclination would be to begin to think of the next task. We will continue with that next time and glean from the lessons that can be learnt there. Occurrences like this happened for George Mueller who, through faith in God, provided for the children constantly, all through their life and they never failed to have what they needed. He didnt have many outward comforts except that supplied by twice daily visits by ravens and the gurgling of the brook but it didnt seem to matter for he was with God. Only 13 left in stock! He could do no work there, only meditate and pray. He had water but he didn't have anything else yet God provided. In its letter this story is a picture of the Lord's care for one who looks to Him seeking . During his exile, Elijah drank from the brook in the ravine, and the ravens brought him bread and meat . Elijah needed to hide, far away from King Ahab and his Queen Jezebel. He said, Lord what will you have me to do? (Acts 9:6). 1 Kings 17:2-4 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: (3) Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. He was living in the centre of Gods revealed will. OBEDIENCE AND THE WORD OF GOD A) Able to Hear God's Voice B) Available to Hear God's Voice 2. You can also find the flight distance or distance to fly from the brook cherith to Zarephath. The numbers of the victims of human trafficking and the stories behind the numbers are why Blissful Faith is partnering with nonprofit organizations to help fund rescues and recovery programs for those entrapped in bondage. But birds carrying food wouldve aroused no interest. The promise God gave him was that he would be provided for there. Remember, in verse 1, Elijah confronted King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. 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. See His absolute sovereignty and power that even birds contrary to natural instincts do His bidding on behalf of His people. This is one of the great lessons from the life of Elijah. The fact is that God leads His servants one step at a time. 6. God then sends him to a widow who needs him more that he needs her. Libby. The Story of Elijah and the Cherith Brook, The 100 Mile Journey From the Dried Up Brook, "Trusting God in Difficult Times" by Community Bible Church at their YouTube Channel, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/251990541632996864/, https://www.youtube.com/user/cbcofbeaufort. That is what a 'Cherith' is. He led him to a place of provision, but that provision wasn't going to last. Moderate. He told the people who worked there to get all the children to sit down and give thanks. Why is water leaking from this hole under the sink? Yet God proved Himself adequate. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Build your pack now. Without private preparation in the one-on-one intimate relationship with the Spirit of God we will become public . Cherith is a place of isolation. Very difficult. The fact is that God leads His servants one step at a time. The dog I have at the moment, no matter which room I am in, will wait outside the door for me. Now brooks can be mean many things. Just as God spoke to Elijah in the Bible for the benefit of many, His Spirit of truth . Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, livesthe God I servethere will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word! (1 Kings 17:1 NLT), Later on, IN THE THIRD YEAR of the drought, the LORD said to Elijah, Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Below is a sermon by Community Bible Church entitled "Trusting God in the Difficult Times," covering 1 Kings 17:1-7. He just committed everything to God. Last week we saw there were lessons Elijah had to learn in going to the brook Cherith, and here we see them being put into practice as Elijah waited: (i) one step at a time he waited. What are we to do with a dried up brook? It is described as being "before," that is "east," of Jordan. Ahab and Jezebel were the most wicked and evil rulers Israel had ever known. We ought not be surprised if our Father says, You have had enough of this hurry, publicity and excitement. When Elijah went to Cherith under the direction of God, he would never dream of that brook becoming exhausted. The above picture shows the distance of Zarephath to the Cherith brook. He went and did what he was told. Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. 1 Kings 17:5-6 So he did what the LORD had told him. He tells Elijah that he will drink from the brook and ravens will give him food ( 1 Kings 17:4 ). If at this time you have yielded to this temptation to throw in the towel of faith and to rely on your own thoughts or on someone else, if your zeal for Christ has diminished, your spirit of devotion is dying, if you find no delight in prayer, nothing to give praise and thanksgiving for, and can find nothing about you to stir you up and encourage you remember Him who said of His vineyard in Isaiah 27:3, I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment; I will even keep it night and day. And of whom it is said in Psalm 84:11, No really good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.. It will be the same for you. The nation had already had the tap of refreshing moisture turned off, and now having been given a prophet he is immediately removed. 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). But God will not share His glory, so Elijah is told to go to a lonely place. She did many evil things such as setting up high places for Baal and she also had the prophets of the Lord killed. The first was learning obedience. So for Elijah this is a test of faith because it is one step at a time. They had spurned it, now they will be deprived of it. And He is doing it in the same general way as He did with His Son. The God who gives water can also withhold it. Each appearance of the ravens was a reminder of being in Gods will, and in God was ministering to him through those unlikely instruments, and even in that apparently unlikely place of isolation. 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