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Lessons from Elijah, Part 2
God's Provision from "Unlikely Places"
By Jerry Nance PhD, President, Global Teen Challenge
In 1 Kings 17:1 we read where Elijah the prophet speaks against Ahab the evil king of Israel and tells him it will not rain for 3 years. Then in verse 2 and 3 we hear God telling Elijah to flee to the Kerith Ravine. Last month I talked to you about the fact that God led Elijah into the ravine--to lonely places. (Click here to see Part 1)
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Jerry Nance
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What I want us to notice now in verse 4 is God's plan for Elijah's provision. God told him that he would drink from a brook and that He would send the ravens to feed him. I read this and thought--what an amazing way God chose to provide for Elijah. Think about this. A bird flies in each morning and each evening to drop off bread and meat to Elijah. When did you ever see a bird bring anyone food?
As I read this I was amazed to think that these birds did this for approximately 2 years. Then the brook dries up in verse 7 and we hear the Lord telling Elijah the next step in his journey. Think about this with me for a moment. The brook dried up due to the lack of rain. But, if God wanted the brook to continue to supply water, he could have done so. But, instead he allowed the brook to dry up as a means of direction for Elijah to the next step of His plan.
Elijah was depending on that water and now it was gone. I can't help but think that we often times get dependant on provision from some source and then it dries up. The flow of blessing stops and we are faced with a challenge to replace that source of provision. Could God be leading us to the next step of our journey? Could He be teaching us to trust Him more for the daily provision we need? We can choose to become fearful and worry or we can choose to trust Him. Let's trust Him.
In verse 9 we hear God tell Elijah to go to the city of Zarephath and there he will meet a widow who will supply him food. As I read this verse I began to think about the fact that the widow was an unlikely place to find provision. She could barely care for herself and her son, how could she be of assistance to Elijah? When God directs us, we must follow Him, no matter how unlikely it seems that we will find provision from the source He reminded me that He is God and He would supply provision for Teen Challenge from unlikely places.
As we read on in chapter 19 verse 6 we see an angel preparing hot bread and supplying water for Elijah. This too is an example of God making provision from an unlikely place. How often does anyone have an angel show up to bake hot bread for them? God is able to supply for us in any manner He chooses. We just have to listen and be prepared to receive from whatever source He supplies. In chapter 19 we see Elijah in a state of mind that did not attract God's pleasure. He was fearful, discouraged, depressed and thinking of suicide. In spite of Elijah's attitude or his current situation, God provided for him from an unlikely place.
As I meditated on these truths I was reminded that God has everything under control. He is in charge and He knows our needs even before we ask. I must confess that at times I struggle with having the patience to wait for Him to supply the needs in the way He chooses.
These principles were a reminder to me of the fact that I must trust God for provision in lean times. I also noticed in this story that God only supplied provision for what Elijah needed each day. There is no mention of extra, abundant blessing or of wealth. There is something here for us to think about.
My prayer for you is that you will take the time to meditate on these truths. Take some time to thank the Lord for what you do have. Seek Him for His help in the next steps of your journey as a leader in Teen Challenge. I challenge you to begin praying for God to provide your needs from unlikely places and watch Him show up in unlikely ways.
Jerry Nance
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