Home Alone

Elijah Predicts a Drought

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”  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 directed 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. – 1 Kings 17:1-6

Here is Elijah, told to hide (quarantined, if you will) in a ravine, by a brook…all alone, no one near him. How did God provide for him? He sent ravens to feed him.

Have you thought about that? Do you know what ravens, or birds like them, eat?  Yech. Road kill, dead animals, and garbage. But what has God provided for Elijah? Meat. Sustainable food for his nourishment. Meat in the morning, and meat in the evening. How many wild birds would bring food to a human daily, two times a day (or even once, ever)? These birds have a “pecking order” as to which one gets to eat first. And another thing, how did the ravens know where Elijah was? Why would they fly to him, when normally they would fly away from a human? But here God has provided for Elijah from such an unusual source, ravens.

God Provides

In this time God provides for us as well. Though we are quarantined from others and our usual activities, for me that includes swimming, softball, coffee with friends, church activities, eating out for dinner or supper, and just being with friends and relatives (I won’t even mention travel…oops, I guess I did). For many their work schedule and/or venue has changed. But what can we do? We can use this time to do with family what we normally do not have time to do…be with them. Play with each other…bring out the  cards, board games, or even just talk to each other. Read.

What Can We Do?

This is a perfect time to reconnect with what God has to offer in His Holy Word. Previous to this writing, I had not thought of how God provided for Elijah in this situation,  but the Lord opened His Word to me, even when I wasn’t looking for it, and even prompted me to write my thoughts down so others, too, may know of God’s providence in times such as we are now faced.

His Word now turns my attention to Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23: 37 (ESV),

“How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

Maybe this is how the Lord is getting us to take a look at our lives, and our relationship with Him. Why don’t we use it as such?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6