“Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” 1 Kings 17:1-7
Elijah has given up control; he has chosen obedience by following the command of the Lord. He has yielded himself to the will of His God. Now he must walk in daily trust for provision. Can you imagine what Elijah must have been thinking? I’ve done what you’ve said, Lord. Now what? Really? I’ll receive my sustenance from birds? Some of the most insignificant of creatures? Couldn’t there be another way?
And so Elijah is fed in this strange way day after day. He is cared for. He is seen. His needs are met. And trust in His God is built meal after meal, provision after provision. He learns God’s provision. He learns it’s not about what the provision is, it’s about the One providing. The One seeing the need and meeting it, in His way. He doesn’t get to choose how God will provide, but he does choose how he will respond to how God provides. Does he receive God’s provision in humble gratefulness or does he reject it and grumble in prideful obstinance?
Reflect on how God has provided for you this week. This month. This year. Has it been in ways you’ve expected or hoped? Has it come in strange or seemingly scarce forms? Today, make a list of how God has provided for you and choose to receive and respond in humble gratefulness.
By Ellen Rosenberger
