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.
And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 1Ki 1-7
And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 1Ki 1-7
From my first year of salvation the Lord has had me come to the life of Elijah, and how God directed him, and used him. I've continued to learn and gain new insight, every time I read the events he was involved in, and how he allowed the Lord to move him, and direct him.
His prayer and dialogue with God was always clear, direct, and to the point. He was honest when he was discouraged, but quick to allow God to correct him, and give Him direction in his service to the Lord. I've noted several things about Elijah's life and his prayers:
1. He never asked for personal gain, it's conspicuous in it's absence.
2. God answered Elijah's prayers-but he didn't send him into a life of ease. God supplied his needs, but not personal wants. He was fed at the brook by ravens, through the drought. A lesson for the believer in their own life.
3. Through the difficulty-Elijah's faith didn't waiver, nor did he balk at being told to lower himself, and become totally dependent on God during this time of great distress in the country.
4. He has taught me the necessity of being completely surrendered to the will of God-regardless of outward circumstances. Just because your in a place of great trouble, doesn't mean your in sin, or disobedient. You have to know yourself honestly, and know where you are in God, and be able and willing to endure hardships-and know even in this, God is with you.
Many martyrs are testimony to this.
5. Elijah's life has taught me the importance of being very keen in listening in my spirit-deep within. The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and spirits-and that is where He speaks to us-in our spirits, in the inner most parts of our belly. God's guidance and leading comes through circumstances, open and closed doors in those circumstances, verification by His word, and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit within. This guidance is an ongoing learning experience, throughout our life.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Pro 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
More could be said about Elijah's life, but this is enough for this post. I will add in closing that I believe his life is a representation of the believer's life in the end of days, which we are in. His life and obedience regardless of his hardships and trials is a testimony for us today, in standing in faith, and believing God for our needs, and to see the hand of God in every circumstance. God doesn't guarantee a life of ease, but that in every situation he is there, and He's working through them. It's important to note, Elijah was taken to heaven, and is there now, not seeing death, as Enoch was taken. This also I believe is a sign to the end-time believer, and like Elijah, we are to be looking for the coming of Christ, just as he watched and waited to be taken. We are to always to be ready, for we do not know the day nor the hour, but we do know the signs-and they are upon us now.
Lorna Couillard
Now a devotion, and commentary will be added below-for greater insight into Elijah's life, and his walk with God.
His prayer and dialogue with God was always clear, direct, and to the point. He was honest when he was discouraged, but quick to allow God to correct him, and give Him direction in his service to the Lord. I've noted several things about Elijah's life and his prayers:
1. He never asked for personal gain, it's conspicuous in it's absence.
2. God answered Elijah's prayers-but he didn't send him into a life of ease. God supplied his needs, but not personal wants. He was fed at the brook by ravens, through the drought. A lesson for the believer in their own life.
3. Through the difficulty-Elijah's faith didn't waiver, nor did he balk at being told to lower himself, and become totally dependent on God during this time of great distress in the country.
4. He has taught me the necessity of being completely surrendered to the will of God-regardless of outward circumstances. Just because your in a place of great trouble, doesn't mean your in sin, or disobedient. You have to know yourself honestly, and know where you are in God, and be able and willing to endure hardships-and know even in this, God is with you.
Many martyrs are testimony to this.
5. Elijah's life has taught me the importance of being very keen in listening in my spirit-deep within. The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and spirits-and that is where He speaks to us-in our spirits, in the inner most parts of our belly. God's guidance and leading comes through circumstances, open and closed doors in those circumstances, verification by His word, and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit within. This guidance is an ongoing learning experience, throughout our life.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Pro 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
More could be said about Elijah's life, but this is enough for this post. I will add in closing that I believe his life is a representation of the believer's life in the end of days, which we are in. His life and obedience regardless of his hardships and trials is a testimony for us today, in standing in faith, and believing God for our needs, and to see the hand of God in every circumstance. God doesn't guarantee a life of ease, but that in every situation he is there, and He's working through them. It's important to note, Elijah was taken to heaven, and is there now, not seeing death, as Enoch was taken. This also I believe is a sign to the end-time believer, and like Elijah, we are to be looking for the coming of Christ, just as he watched and waited to be taken. We are to always to be ready, for we do not know the day nor the hour, but we do know the signs-and they are upon us now.
Lorna Couillard
Now a devotion, and commentary will be added below-for greater insight into Elijah's life, and his walk with God.
A Steadfast Spirit
Week after week, with unfaltering and steadfast spirit, Elijah watched that dwindling brook; often tempted to stagger through unbelief, but refusing to allow his circumstances to come between himself and God. Unbelief sees God through circumstances, as we sometimes see the sun shorn of his rays through smoky air; but faith puts God between itself and circumstances, and looks at them through Him. And so the dwindling brook became a silver thread; and the silver thread stood presently in pools at the foot of the largest boulders; and the pools shrank. The birds fled; the wild creatures of field and forest came no more to drink; the brook was dry. Only then to his patient and unwavering spirit, "the word of the Lord came, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath."
Most of us would have gotten anxious and worn with planning long before that. We should have ceased our songs as soon as the streamlet caroled less musically over its rocky bed; and with harps swinging on the willows, we should have paced to and fro upon the withering grass, lost in pensive thought. And probably, long ere the brook was dry, we should have devised some plan, and asking God’s blessing on it, would have started off elsewhere.
God often does extricate us, because His mercy endureth forever; but if we had only waited first to see the unfolding of His plans, we should never have found ourselves landed in such an inextricable labyrinth; and we should never have been compelled to retrace our steps with so many tears of shame. Wait, patiently wait! -- (F. B. Meyer)
Most of us would have gotten anxious and worn with planning long before that. We should have ceased our songs as soon as the streamlet caroled less musically over its rocky bed; and with harps swinging on the willows, we should have paced to and fro upon the withering grass, lost in pensive thought. And probably, long ere the brook was dry, we should have devised some plan, and asking God’s blessing on it, would have started off elsewhere.
God often does extricate us, because His mercy endureth forever; but if we had only waited first to see the unfolding of His plans, we should never have found ourselves landed in such an inextricable labyrinth; and we should never have been compelled to retrace our steps with so many tears of shame. Wait, patiently wait! -- (F. B. Meyer)
Get Thee Hence-The Hidden Life
We have in our theme a suggestion of the Divine guidance. The word of the Lord as a guide comes to the man of prayer. I suppose Elijah was greatly disappointed at the message which came to him. He had the heart of a soldier, and he grieved at the idolatry which he saw everywhere. But it was the best thing for Elijah and for the cause. We have a case like it in the New Testament where Philip, who was a very popular preacher and was enjoying great success, was suddenly instructed by word of the Lord to leave where he was and go away into the desert, It must have been a great disappointment to Philip, a severe cross for him to bear. But Philip obeyed, and it was on that journey that the treasurer of Queen Candace came driving by, and the word of the Lord again indicated to Philip his duty. Then Philip knew why the word of the Lord had guided him as it had. So Elijah’s great soul was burning to tear down the idols of Baal and Ashtaroth; but the time was not yet ripe, and God was saving the prophet’s life and giving the bold message he had uttered time to work by guiding him away into the wilderness. God went with Elijah into the wilderness, and long afterwards he knew the wisdom of Heaven. The word of the Lord, if we are obedient to it, will work while we are hidden. No doubt Elijah, if he had used his own judgment, would have backed up the Lord’s message day after day with his own big body and his own ringing voice. But it was not the time for that. God used Elijah for His message, and he delivered it well. He acted promptly and faithfully, and with perfect courage, and then, against his own judgment, he followed the word of the Lord and went into hiding and into silence. (L. A. Banks, D. D.)
