Hills + Valleys

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.”11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:10-16

Faith in God’s call for us is one thing, faith in someone else’s involving us in their calling can be quite another. I almost believe it’s easier to follow God’s call for ourselves than through someone else. For one reason or another, we become suspicious. I’m certain many of us have experienced someone involving us, only to end up being misled. But what of our example here?

In verse 9, God has already told a widow to care for Elijah. When Elijah gets to Zarephath, he sees a widow and asks her for water. This seems to be his method to determine if this is the widow. For the widow, maybe this helps her realize this is who God sent. What Elijah is asking for, given her circumstances, is dramatic. Elijah wouldn’t have accomplished God’s call without asking.

What a wonderful story for us! Some in our community of faith, just like the widow, could be led by the Lord to involve others, and sometimes that’s us! These calls through others can be simple, but they can also tax us in ways hard to imagine. While the widow attempted to push back on Elijah, she is promised a and given a blessing based upon her faithfulness.

When we’re asked to participate with others in their experiences with the Lord, we’re not necessarily promised a blessing as the widow was. However, there’s still a blessing to be had! We have the opportunity to experience joy with those in our community as they journey with the Lord! And, when others witness this joy, they’re learning that the Kingdom of God involves us all, giving them faith in each others’ callings.

Applying this story to ourselves can really reframe evangelism. Demonstrating trust with others in the pursuit of our call, even if it costs them something, can expand the Kingdom of God in ways we can’t fathom today. Others can experience freedom by seeing you take this important step. This might be the one thing that will cause others to do the same with their own call. Today, consider what you believe your call to be, and how God might be asking you to move in this way, and then do it!

By Rich Obrecht 

7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 1 Kings 17:7-10 a

As you may recall, in the earlier part of this chapter, Elijah was instructed to go to the brook of Cherith. There, the ravens brought him daily sustenance. In the wilderness. In the quiet. In the nowhere with no one. And Elijah’s trust was built daily. In a God who provides. In a God who is present. In a God who was not wasting this wilderness season.

Now, the next season of training has begun. And it happens again through Elijah’s obedience. The word of the Lord comes to him and is met with obedience which then produces fruit, not only in his life but also in the life of the widow of Zarephath. Previously, Elijah was dependent on God’s creation for his provision. Now he is sent into a situation where he will be dependent on another human being for his very life. All the while God is building upon the training he has begun in Elijah. The God of Israel is growing Elijah’s trust, faith, and character.  

And it doesn’t come easy. But Elijah has experienced the favor, care, and presence of God in this season of training to the point that his trust of God Almighty is ever growing. Is yours?

To be able to hear the voice of God, and then choose to obey it no matter how unrealistic it may seem, takes true grit. It takes a felt trust in the person you are following. An acknowledgment that you are trusting the outcome to this Person and that you believe there will be fruit produced. Obedience may seem like discipline at times; though it may be difficult, remember the reward and the outcome: trust and good fruit. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

Today, ponder these questions: What life circumstances might God be using as training in your life? How can you embrace this season as a training ground for your faith  journey?

By Ellen Rosenberger 

Dear Elijah,

If only you knew all the great and marvelous things I want to show you. Cherith brook is just a beginning. You might consider being fed by ravens inconceivable and undesirable. There is no limit to what I can do and how I can accomplish it. My ways are not your ways. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in me. I am real, unlike the many idols you find around you. I long for you and my people to truly know me. The world you live in is temporary and always changing. I will be with you through every change; there are more to come. Believe me when I say I am with you, I am for you, I have your back.  Those who seek to destroy you will not succeed.

If only you could see how intimately involved I am in your life. Before you were even born, I knew you. I have plans for you to give you a future and a hope. I open and close the doors of opportunity to guide you. The natural consequences of the drought are going to affect you too. I will use the ups and downs, successes and failures you experience for your benefit and so others might know me. Because you are continually available to me and obedient to do what I ask, hearts will turn to me. All your sufferings draw you closer to me, and bring glory to my name. My goal for you is your character not convenience. Your real need is to keep your eyes on me, your all-wise, all-knowing Father. Focus on me, your provider and sustainer, not the food brought by the birds. Discipline your heart to hope only in me.

If only you could feel the love I have for you. I carry you near to my heart, as a shepherd carries a lamb. Give me all your troubles, your fears, your doubts, because I care for you. When you are brokenhearted I am close to you. I count and collect your tears and carry them with me in a bottle. One day I will take away all your tears and all your pain. You will live forever with me in the reality I intended, in my love, and in my truth. There are pleasures forever in my presence. Decide to stay as close to me as you can no matter what. You will know pure joy and happiness when you love me more than anything or anyone else.

Love,

Your heavenly Father

By Donna Burns  

“Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And 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 17:1-7

Elijah has given up control; he has chosen obedience by following the command of the Lord. He has yielded himself to the will of His God. Now he must walk in daily trust for provision. Can you imagine what Elijah must have been thinking? I’ve done what you’ve said, Lord. Now what? Really? I’ll receive my sustenance from birds? Some of the most insignificant of creatures? Couldn’t there be another way?

And so Elijah is fed in this strange way day after day. He is cared for. He is seen. His needs are met. And trust in His God is built meal after meal, provision after provision. He learns God’s provision. He learns it’s not about what the provision is, it’s about the One providing. The One seeing the need and meeting it, in His way. He doesn’t get to choose how God will provide, but he does choose how he will respond to how God provides. Does he receive God’s provision in humble gratefulness or does he reject it and grumble in prideful obstinance?

Reflect on how God has provided for you this week. This month. This year. Has it been in ways you’ve expected or hoped? Has it come in strange or seemingly scarce forms? Today, make a list of how God has provided for you and choose to receive and respond in humble gratefulness.    

By Ellen Rosenberger 

Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” And the word of the Lord came to him: “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 1 Kings 17:1-3

Something I learned with our children was sometimes you need to cup their face in your hands, and speak to them so they can’t miss what you’re trying to say. While my girls didn’t necessarily like it, I felt certain it was necessary because they just weren’t hearing me. It almost seems like this is what God is doing with Elijah. It’s not necessarily that Elijah wasn’t listening, but that God had some very important things to teach Elijah, and the only way was to remove all distractions.

Elijah had just delivered some really bad news forecasting a drought for the northern kingdom, and I’m sure that he knew King Ahab wasn’t happy. God’s telling Elijah to leave was probably met with a sense of relief. Sending Elijah to a place of isolation from the fear he might have of King Ahab was part of what God wanted to accomplish. While not mentioned just yet, the fact that God kept Elijah from having to carry food with him, or gathering it when he arrived at the brook Cherith seems to support this thinking.

Perhaps the very meaning of the word Cherith gives an idea as to why God sent Elijah there. The word Cherith means a cutting or a separation. Coincidences don’t exist with God, so the meaning of the word Cherith is important. God cut away distractions, as well as anything else that might get in the way of God’s plan for Elijah. We know nothing of Elijah before this, so we don’t know for certain, but I think God’s doing this is a clear indication Elijah needed the determined teachings of God. We see something like this in John 15:2 where Jesus is saying fruit-bearing branches are pruned so they might produce more fruit. It seems this is the case here.

Perhaps it’s time to visit our own ‘Cherith’ to find areas where we need God’s hand in pruning or cutting. Think about your own life. Are there areas where you fear losing control? Things like finances, jobs, a relationship, a sin, or something else, that keep you from surrendering? If this resonates with you, perhaps writing a prayer of surrender would start the process of pruning despite the fears you might have.

By Rich Obrecht 

‘Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord , the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” ‘1 Kings 17:1

Elijah was a nobody from nowhere. We know very little about him. He was a Tishbite of Tishbe which could be read several ways. Tishbe could refer to a place, a people group, or a way of life. The repetition here seems to hint at the fact that he was from the place and also lived like a Tishbite. Tishbite means wanderer or sojourner. He was likely a sort of nomad. All of the sudden this nobody from no particular place finds himself standing before the king. Not only that, but he carried a message from the king of kings. Further, he spoke words that affected the kingdom.

After Elijah dramatically arrives on the pages of history, it’s as if he wiggles his way into all of time. From his dynamic ministry to his mysterious deathless departure from earth to his cameo’s through time, God chose to make this prophet a part of his plan for world history. Other prophets tell of his return someday; in the New Testament the people thought John the Baptist was Elijah. Later they thought Jesus was Elijah. Then on a mountain with a few of his closest friends Elijah shows up shining white. Many scholars believe that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelation.  

God has this funny habit of using nobodies. He doesn’t often choose the powerful or famous to accomplish his good in the world. In this case he chooses a Tishbite. All through the scriptures God chooses the obscure people to do great things. It’s the second born child instead of the first born, it’s the barren mother that gives birth, God chooses the nowhere town of Bethlehem to be born, the fisherman rather than the preacher, the women rather than the men, and the humble rather then the proud. What doubts do you have about being used by God? Is it your upbringing, that thing someone said to you that made you feel worthless, or your sin? God chose a Christian killer to write much of the New Testament. Ask God now to use you for his kingdom. You can use a portion of the Lord’s prayer if it helps. Pray something like, “Let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…and use me to make that happen, Father.”  

By Aaron Bjorklund