Jessica Tsay—Phoenix, Arizona, US

There may be times when we face situations in which we are unable to see what lies ahead. When the situation is out of our control, we are fearful of facing the unknown.

When God called Elijah into hiding, into a new life, Elijah was brought face to face with an unknown future (1 Kgs 17:1–7). Through his calling, Elijah learned to renew his trust in God daily. Likewise, if we are able to look to God—trusting Him in every moment—we will find that those who trust in God will truly not lack anything.

Submitting to God’s Will

“Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.” (1 Kgs 17:3, emphasis added)

When God called Elijah, His first command was to “get away” and “hide.” With no idea of why he needed to hide or how long he would be there, Elijah was forced to make a decision: Should I obey? It is likely Elijah had questions, but instead of voicing them, he chose to obey God. Without any hesitation, Elijah went and did what God had commanded him. It is notable that during his interaction with God, Elijah is not recorded to have said anything, not even a word! But his actions speak for him—in complete submission and trust in God’s word, he swiftly heeded God’s instructions and hid himself by the Brook Cherith.

The same unquestioning obedience can be seen when Abram was called. In Genesis 12:1, God told him to “get out” of his country. Immediately following these instructions, the Bible records that Abram “departed as the LORD had spoken to him” (Gen 12:4). Without asking why or voicing any complaints, Abram willingly left his home to go to an unfamiliar place. When God calls, are we likewise willing to trust and obey Him?

Both of these characters showed exemplary obedience to God’s will. If we are able to trust in God and in His instructions, we too will find that God has not led us thus far only to leave us to fend for ourselves. When God calls, He only asks that we take the first step. If we do so in submission and trust, we will lack nothing. After heeding the Lord’s command, Elijah did not find himself struggling alone; he instead found God’s hand supplying all his needs. No matter what unknown steps we face in our own lives, let us learn to submit to God’s instructions, trusting that we will not lack anything if we obey.

Opening Our Minds to the Way God Provides

“And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” (1 Kgs 17:4, emphasis added)

While obtaining water from a brook seems reasonable, it is peculiar that the Lord commanded ravens to feed Elijah. It must have seemed very impractical and surprising to Elijah when he heard that ravens would feed him. Surely there are easier ways to provide food! However, this is the mystery of God’s providence.

God’s use of ravens taught Elijah two things. First, God provides in His own ways and can use anything or anyone to do His work. God could have used any other bird to bring him food, or better yet, He could have chosen not to use an animal, but a human being. In the Levitical law, ravens are labelled “unclean,” an abomination (Lev 11:13, 15). Using a bird—an unclean bird—serves as a striking message that God can use what we deem unworthy to fulfill His will. We often forget that the way in which God provides may be unexpected, or unfamilliar. Even if it appears irrational to us, we must be aware and accepting of the ways in which God provides.

Second, God wanted Elijah to keep his eyes on Him. Elijah had no control over the comings and goings of the ravens. At the start of each day, he was forced to gaze at the sky and wonder, Will the ravens still come today? This compelled him to constantly renew his trust in the Lord. Each day, Elijah would need to once again trust that the ravens would come and that, through them, God would provide.

Elijah’s continual trust in the Lord’s providence did not fail him. Every day, his physical necessities were fulfilled and he never found himself lacking.

In addition to being fed physically, God also fed him spiritually. In the Bible, the word “feed” is used not only in instances of physical feeding, but also in being emotionally or spiritually sustained. Psalm 55:22 says that if we cast our burdens on the Lord, He will sustain us. The Hebrew word for “sustain” is the same word used when God commanded the ravens to feed Elijah. In being fed by God, Elijah was being sustained—filled with spiritual strength to endure his time by the brook, as well as the low points that he would encounter throughout the rest of his life.

Let us learn from Elijah and work daily to renew our trust in the Lord. Let us keep ourselves open to the ways He provides, because when God provides, we will lack nothing.

Waiting on the Lord

So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. (1 Kgs 17:5)

After Elijah obeyed the Lord’s will and trusted in His unexpected form of providence, he faced another problem. Day by day, Elijah watched as the water in the brook dwindled, until it eventually dried up. And during this time, God was silent. This was most likely a prolonged period of silence, as only “after a while” did the brook dry up (1 Kgs 17:7).

For many of us, the painfully gradual process of watching the water decline would undoubtedly cause increasing anxiety. Perhaps we would cry out and complain to God. We might wonder if we should take the situation into our own hands and try to find another water source. With our life at stake, we would most likely conclude that leaving would be our best option in order to preserve our life.

But Elijah did none of these things.

Elijah’s voice is not recorded during this period of time, but again he speaks through his actions. Not only did he go and do according to the Lord’s will, but he also stayed there. He stayed even though he was unsure of what to do, even with the receding water level of the brook. He stayed even though God was silent. He chose to stay in spite of everything. He did not accusingly ask, “God, where are You?” Instead, his actions humbly whispered, “God, I will wait for You.”

When we are put into situations in which we do not know the will of God or are unable to hear Him, are we able to patiently wait on the Lord? It is in times like these that we must continue to wait. It is not our place to walk ahead of God, but to follow closely behind Him. He wants us to follow Him in the same way that the Israelites followed the pillar of cloud in the wilderness. Where the pillar went, they followed; and where the pillar stopped, there they also stopped. If we do not walk ahead, God will prepare the way for us so that we will not lack anything. Elijah was able to wait on God throughout His silence, and was thus provided for, through the widow at Zarephath after the brook dried up. Even if we do not understand God’s will, it is in patience that we must wait for the Lord, knowing that He will provide in His own time.

Conclusion

Elijah’s actions in response to God’s command vividly demonstrated his unwavering trust in God. When we are able to trust God in the same way Elijah did, we can boldly face the unknown. We can be reassured that God will provide in His own way and in His own time, that He goes before us and is with us every step of the way. In every need, we trust that He will supply.

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want. (Ps 23:1)