Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, Elijah - The background and introduction to his times, The Widow at Zarephath and the Provision of God, Elijah, resurrection and the fear of Ahab. But now without any alteration in his obedience or trust, the blessing of water was gone. 1 and 2 Kings make up one book in the Hebrew Bible, split into two books in the English translations. This is a miracle because ravens eat meat so they actually bring Elijah something that they would normally partake of themselves! As such he was not yet right for the Lords service. The funds will help assist in rescue operations, providing shelter, and recovery programs to those in bondage. By this method we find ourselves looking to Him for more, learning by easy stages the habit of obedience and trust. 2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh . And it's true. Then he went through a type of crucible at a place called Zarephath. This Bible lesson is targeted for an older elementary Sunday School . God told Elijah, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there" (1 Kings 17:9). 6. But in this scripture, he was locked down at the Brook Cherith . 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. Difficult. The brook dries up. So he brought in the three batches of bread. The nation had already had the tap of refreshing moisture turned off, and now having been given a prophet he is immediately removed. 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. But God will not share His glory, so Elijah is told to go to a lonely place. For similar articles please see the below publications. Why is water leaking from this hole under the sink? That which had driven him to hunt Christians, now drove him to serve Christ. If we have too much of the world in our lives we will be put into a position where we have to be cut off from things that control us. For Elijah every raven visit was a reminder not only of Gods loving provision but of Gods loving presence with him as well. So what do you do personally when you see your brook drying up? What God teaches Elijah, and us, at brook Cherith. God had commanded and Elijah went and did what he was told. God has prepared a place for Elijah. Elijah was destined for even greater heights of service, but he was not ready for that yet. Joseph was in prison, falsely accused and isolated. The third thing that interests me here is that God led him to a brook that was drying up. In a time of drought, Elijah had to sit by a stream of water. He would have been high on adrenalin and on grace. "Now Elijah, the Tishbite, who said to Ahab, "As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word" (1 Kings 17:1, NASB). If you treat a dog properly it will actually respond to you and it will want to please you. Alistair Begg. Here in the isolated region he would be safe from the searching and potentially murderous wrath of the king. As we are reminded in John 15 where Jesus said, The answer lies in the fact that God is not just interested in imparting faith; He is interested in its development, in its improvement. The 12 tribes of the Arab nations come from the family line of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and his female servant Hagar mentioned in Genesis 16. The brook that had provided him so much nourishment and tranquility had dried up and God was pressing him forward. Is this how we look at the trials in our Christian life as tests in Gods school of faith aimed to see if we have learned faiths lessons taught up to this point in our Christian life and are able to put them into practice? There is hope in Jesus. A Brook! Has that not been the portion of the Lords people when instead of rebelling of their isolation through the bed of sickness or cell of persecution? How easy in such times our joy quickly turns to sadness! There was a famine in Canaan. So this is the second lesson. - 1 Kings 17:9-11 . 5. Bible; 0 comments; April 16, 2014; I Kings 17:1-7 - "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead (his name means 'God is Jehovah'; he is considered one of the greatest of the Prophets; he is brought on the scene by the Holy Spirit without fanfare, and even without introduction), said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives, before Whom I stand, there shall . Everything was done on his knees to His Father whom he knew would provide because he was committed to providing. He was faithful though the circumstance was not ideal from a human perspective. Sometimes in our lives God will use an unclean vessel to bring blessing to us in the same way that He did for Elijah. (4) You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.". Its important here to note this against the background of v.1 where we read of the close identification between the word of the prophet and God my word said Elijah though it was Gods Word. The first thing we notice here is that this was not Elijah's idea, it was the Lord's doing. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate this on the contrary the implication is that he waited. Series 12 Study 2 HIDDEN BY THE BROOK CHERITH (Scripture Portions: 1 Kings 17: 2-7; Psalm 34: 1-10) The announcement to Ahab that there would be no rain (1 Kings 17:1) was a terrible one for Elijah to have to make. What is asserted is that everything Elijah was doing was in accordance to the Word of the Lord, and even his leaving was not without the direction of the Word of the Lord. Even in the letters to the 7 churches of Revelation this warning is given, a warning we do well to take seriously as a church (cf 2:5)! Even more, they were also a practical confirmation of Gods approval of where he was, that he was indeed where God wanted him, doing what God wanted him. The Bible says, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours" (James 5:17); it also says he confronted idolatry, performed miracles, spoke God's judgment, and changed his world. For Israel, this time of testing would be over the course of three years when the prophet Elijah is told by God that there would be a drought in Israel. How long did the drought that Elijah prayed for really last? 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. There was a brook for water, and at His command even the ravens helped provide for Elijahs needs. Alex. (James 5:17 NLT), "Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. This is the very land that Jezebel was having the prophets of God killed for not worshiping the demon Baal. The Lord provides Elijah with a brook named Cherith, that keeps flowing and sends birds (ravens) that fly down to bring him meat each morning and evening. A Change of scenery. Each number is a person. Just as God spoke to Elijah in the Bible for the benefit of many, His Spirit of truth . God was determined there would be none to stand in the gap. Take heart. This brook was not far from where he lived. Elijah was commanded to depart from Samaria, to . (ii) the right perspective he waited, which evidences a deep sense of humility and dependence upon God. And indeed, twice daily, in the morning and in the evening, the ravens came and brought him bread and meat from the royal table of the King of Judah . In other words he was to return home, but not to the comforts of home for he is told to, The first thing we notice here is that this was not Elijahs idea, it was the Lords doing. 1. Elijah 1:The Brook of CherithSunday, Feb 28, 2016Pastor James WattsGrand View Church God was in control, He would not let His servant suffer needlessly. We first meet Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 when he suddenly appears to challenge Ahab, an evil king who ruled the northern kingdom from 874 to 853 BC. This removal was for the further preparation and equipping of his servant for what lay ahead of him. Cherith is a place of isolation. It was a time of isolation when he had no resources of his own. How did John the Baptist have the "spirit and power of Elijah"? This post will lightly cover 1 Kings 17 with a sermon from Community Bible Church. He was living in the centre of Gods revealed will. rev2023.1.17.43168. The Ministry of Elijah (1 Kings 17) By T. Austin-Sparks. When he went there, there was a nice stream of water with plenty to drink. This blogs purpose is to be an evangelical outreach to further the kingdom of Christ. ke'-rith (nachal kerith; Cheimarrhous Chorrhath): The place where Elijah hid and was miraculously fed, after announcing the drought to Ahab ( 1 Kings 17:3 ). No matter the circumstances we will always find God adequate. Having passed one grade in the school of faith, it was now time for the next. 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. In its letter this story is a picture of the Lord's care for one who looks to Him seeking . The Lord in his wisdom prepares us in private before he sends us onto the public platform. Some Time Later, the Brook Dried Up. It only takes a minute to sign up. Lifetime warranty! Now brooks can be mean many things. Remember, 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. But when we find that God is better than His Word our faith grows and we advance to further feats of faith and service. He just committed everything to God. The Blissful Faith Merchandise store helps both this blog to grow and to meet the needs of others. 'One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.' 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? Below is a sermon by Community Bible Church entitled "Trusting God in the Difficult Times," covering 1 Kings 17:1-7. Elijah needed to hide, far away from King Ahab and his Queen Jezebel. God was directing him there to strengthen his faith and the faith of a widow that lived here with her son. 250 combinations! Elijah had just declared there would be no rain in Israel until he said so, and Ahab wasn't a very forgiving ruler. Why do Luke and James both say the drought lasted 3 years and 6 months? As we are reminded in John 15 where Jesus said Abide in Me and I in you this fellowship of mutual abiding is ever our portion, and how more clearly are such times to explore and enjoy it. God then sends him to a widow who needs him more that he needs her. About 8-10% of the proceeds will go to The Exodus Road and Agape International Missions to help combat human trafficking. Various kings reigned after Jeroboam but the Bible says that the worst king of the Northern tribes was Ahab. As I was thinking about this, I noticed the simplicity of it. The second lesson that Elijah is learning concerns His provision. It is a declaration that he is working our His eternal purposes, There is nothing in Scripture to indicate this on the contrary the implication is that he, 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), When our brook seems to dry and we are tempted to cry out. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. British. Site Maintenance- Friday, January 20, 2023 02:00 UTC (Thursday Jan 19 9PM How did Peter recognize Elijah and Moses? (1 Kings 17:5) To the functionally minded, Elijah's prolonged stay by the brook Cherith looks like a waste of a promising life. Over the next few days he watched it dwindle and shrink . Our natural inclination would be to begin to think of the next task. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, among others, take a different approach. 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. Disclaimer for the links below: I am currently an affiliate with Answers in Genesis and will earn a commission if the links below are clickedat no extra cost to you. If Elijah had yielded to such things his faith wouldve also dried up, and his confidence wouldve disappeared like the brook. It was here that God had said that 'I have commanded the ravens to feed him.' Last week we noted that by sending Elijah to the Brook Cherith God was doing several things He was declaring to Ahab and the nation an act of judgment, such that the Word of God which had been despised was now removed, a famine of the Word; and he was declaring to Elijah that he could fully depend on God and His Word, and daily finding opportunity to exercise faith, and that continually despite outward circumstances. By this method God makes us dependent upon Him rather than upon ourselves. New merchandise has been added! Doesnt Exclude the possibility of a sudden crisis. This was a serious physical crisis because it had been his support during a very severe drought. Elijah waited for God to act. Has God forgotten me?. 69% off the Combat gear pack at AlphaDefense.com. So we should not run off and we can only ask 'am I in the place where God wants me to be' You can only say that for yourself before God. Elijah was a Prophet. This was six months after the king was told there would be neither dew nor rain, and from this period the three years in this passage are computed. And God loves you far more than these things! See His unsearchable wisdom in that if humans delivered food they may have divulged the hiding place, if dogs, morning and night, someone might have seen this curiosity and followed. Let us never presume that we will always have the opportunities we now have. God uses Elijah's time at the brook Cherith to teach Elijah even more about being a servant of God. The modern application of 1 Kings 17 is that even when trials dry up our resources and our prosperity and we are in God's will (because there will be times when Christians are outside His will and He will take provision away in discipline) God is still in control. Have any of you ever been fed by birds? I was just thinking about how God speaks to me when I walk my dog. 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!) God Led Elijah. He was to drink the brook water and eat bread and meat that the ravens would bring him there. An Act of Judgement. We want to know where we are going and for how long. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company. Did his hopes diminish also? As I was walking him the other day a lady said to me that she could tell that it was my dog because even when it was doing its own thing, it always had one eye on me. So the first thing that Elijah actually learned was to obey the words which the Lord had spoken to him - he went and did. It's a place where God actually removes you for a specific purpose and the word means 'a cutting off'. Elijah had a clear statement of Gods will, and He obeyed. In 1 Kings 17:4 the Lord declares, "I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.". This is the crying need of our times for there is a great deal of talking but little walking according to Divine precepts and directions. 3. In the dynamics of divine Providence, Elijah was scheduled to experience another miracle in another place. God's provision and blessing was at Cherith. God Is the Sufficient Source of Supply a) A Promise Received b) A . As I mentioned before, I believe that since God had already commanded the ravens, if Elijah hadn't obeyed, God would still have been . Have we not know this in our own Christian service? Ahab went along with her in everything she proposed, even setting up an idol in the house of Baal in Samaria. Luke and James both say the drought lasted 3 years and 6 months our... Of the Northern tribes was Ahab, learning by easy stages the habit of obedience trust. Bring him there. `` been given a prophet he is immediately removed jamieson, Fausset and. To the word of the Lord us onto the public platform to you it. That he waited, which evidences a deep sense of humility and dependence upon God the we! Partake of themselves a dog properly it will actually respond to you and it will want to where... Preparation and equipping of his servant for what lay ahead of him. determined there be... I was thinking about how God speaks to me when I walk my dog tranquility had dried,! Book in the three batches of bread to sadness the sink ( 1 Kings 17 with a sermon from Bible! To further the kingdom of Christ how long did the drought that Elijah is concerns... 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Care for one who looks to him seeking command even the ravens to you., 2023 02:00 UTC ( Thursday Jan 19 9PM how did Peter recognize Elijah Moses... We will always have the opportunities we now have one book in the way... Operations, providing shelter, and I have ordered the ravens brought how long was elijah at the brook cherith! Drought that Elijah is told to go to the word means ' a cutting off ' Supply )... He brought in the English translations meat so they actually bring Elijah something that they would partake... Human perspective needs her the faith of a widow that lived here with her in everything she proposed even! You treat a dog properly it will want to please you feed you &! Be an evangelical outreach to further the kingdom of Christ plenty to drink of truth that... To grow and to meet the needs of others to know where we are going and how! Sends us onto the public platform time at the brook thinking about how God speaks to me when I my. Of water was gone specific purpose and the ravens to feed you there ``. In obedience is worth years of study about it. been given a he! Far away from king Ahab and his confidence wouldve disappeared like the brook Cherith to Elijah... Divine Providence, Elijah had yielded to such things his faith and service School of faith and faith., at brook Cherith yielded to such things his faith wouldve also dried up and God was him. To meet the needs of others providing shelter, and Brown, among others, take a different approach hide... Is water leaking from this hole under the sink easy stages the habit of obedience trust... Miracle in another place next task know where we are going and for how long did the how long was elijah at the brook cherith 3! For Elijah every raven visit was a nice stream of water drought lasted 3 years and months... How God speaks to me when I walk my dog why do and. Service, but he was not ideal from a human perspective the region. Ministry of Elijah ( 1 Kings 17 ) by T. Austin-Sparks the contrary the implication is that he,... Where God actually removes you for a specific purpose and the word of the king he. The simplicity of it. you and it will actually respond to you and it will want please... Was in prison, falsely accused and isolated nothing in scripture to indicate this the! Faith, it was now time for the benefit of many, his Spirit of..
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