Even the Ravens Obey God’s Voice.
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to supply you with food there."
So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
I Kings 17:2-6 (NIV, NKJV)
Elijah faithfully delivered the judgment of God on Israel. The drought started in earnest. So, how was Elijah himself going to be sustained during the drought? What was he going to eat and drink? Where was he going to stay safely from the anger of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel?
God had it all figured out. God was supernaturally going to feed him through the ravens and he was safely going to be hidden from danger by the Kerith Ravine. The ravine was going to be his source of water. Divine provision had already been made for Elijah's divine assignment.
Certain things are rather fascinating in this account:
First, God had a plan in place to sustain Elijah. Elijah was sheltered from danger and he was miraculously going to be fed by birds. God commanded the ravens to feed His servant.
Whenever God gives us an assignment, our focus should never be on self-preservation because God always has a plan of sustenance in place for His servants. Our sole agenda should be to carry out whatever responsibility God has assigned to us. We can be sure of one thing: God's work done God's way will never lack divine provision even if He has to use birds to supply the need.
Second, ravens only feed on carcasses of birds and animals found in the fields, as well as the leftovers of wild kills. In addition, the Israelites were forbidden by God from eating ravens and the meat normally eaten by ravens was also forbidden from consumption by God. But our God of miracles, commanded a forbidden bird to be the instrument through which His divine purposes would be fulfilled! What kind of meat did the ravens bring to Elijah? Obviously, not the meat of a carcass!
We serve a God whose ways are totally beyond human comprehension. He is able to supply our needs from the most unlikely sources and through the most unlikely means. We must always be still before this amazing God.
Third: At a time when the rest of the nation was starving under judgment, Elijah was well fed morning and evening with meat and bread. The truth is meat was not the regular food of the common person on a daily basis -- twice a day in this instance. Meat on a daily basis could only be found at the king's table. But God fed Elijah like a king in the midst of the drought!!
We can trust God to give us the very best if our focus is not on acquiring the best for ourselves but giving the best of ourselves by way of service to Him. Remember: Even the ravens obey God's voice. God can command the ravens to feed you if you walk obediently with Him. Even in the midst of a drought, God can feed you supernaturally through ravens!
Prayer: Father, I thank you that when we do your work your way, we will never lack, even if it means using the ravens to feed us. Help me to focus on the responsibilities you have assigned me, knowing that you can supply my needs through the most unlikely means. Amen.