This Bible lesson is targeted for an older elementary Sunday School . When Elijah went to Cherith under the direction of God, he would never dream of that brook becoming exhausted. No matter the circumstances we will always find God adequate. Now Gd told Elijah to withdraw to a deserted place, by the brook of Cherith near the Jordan. Being in Gods will always provides us with experiences of the blessings of the Lords presence and love. This widow's faith would once more be deeply testedand affirmedwhen her son was struck with a serious illness. Below are links that will lead to different products serving veterans, active duty members, law enforcement, and security forces alike. We respond to God out of relationship. 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.". Here he was to be alone for at least a year without human company. How could this be? CHERITH, THE BROOK. As such he was not yet right for the Lords service. God provided for the whole lot. Take heart. How do we build on it. The time of testing usually requires sacrifice and faith, both interchangeably. His prophecy was that there would be no rain for 3 1/2 years, and there would not be any dew either - unless he said so. Because this is a short lesson, there is time for reviewing all of the books of the Old Testament that the students are learning so far. PLEASE NOTE: bidding and explicit material is prohibited on this platform so the links are safe to use. Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. I see another principle here in scripture - sometimes God tells you ahead of time what is going to happen. God has prepared a place for Elijah. It's all about dependence upon God. Bible; 0 comments; April 16, 2014; I Kings 17:1-7 - "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead (his name means 'God is Jehovah'; he is considered one of the greatest of the Prophets; he is brought on the scene by the Holy Spirit without fanfare, and even without introduction), said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives, before Whom I stand, there shall . (James 5:17 NLT), "Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. He was to drink the brook water and eat bread and meat that the ravens would bring him there. He realised that there was actually too much of self in what they had just been doing. Now brooks can be mean many things. The nation had already had the tap of refreshing moisture turned off, and now having been given a prophet he is immediately removed. He went and did what he was told. Blissful Faith was founded on December 19, 2019. They live on carrion yet they will bring him wholesome food. Thus, if he lived at Cherith for some months, and this time is added to the 2+ years he lived in Zarephath, the time mentioned by Jesus and James (3 years, 6 months) is not necessarily contradictory to the 1 . There he drinks from its waters and is miraculously fed each morning and evening by ravens. 1 Kings 17:2-4 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: (3) Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. All we can be sure of is that he must have been more than two rears, out of the three and a haft, at Zare-phath. In a time of drought, Elijah had to sit by a stream of water. 1) God commanded and the ravens came. Carmel in 1 Kings 18:20-39). They argue that the two periods of rain in ancient Israel normally occurred in March and October, and that the king's anger would have driven Elijah away only after these rains failed: The early rain fell in our March, the latter rain in our October. Last week we saw there were lessons Elijah had to learn in going to the brook Cherith, and here we see them being put into practice as Elijah waited: (i) one step at a time he waited. He went through a kind of boot camp at the brook Cherith. Elijah didnt get his local hiking map out and go looking for another source of water, waterholes which he may have known about from previous travels in this area. Ahab went along with her in everything she proposed, even setting up an idol in the house of Baal in Samaria. He was amazing because his God is amazing! Think about that for a moment. God Is the Sovereign Source of Supply a) When Elijah Approached the Widow b) What Elijah Asked the Widow 3. Elijah was a Prophet. It was here at the drying brook that Elijah was to learn an important lesson relating to this apparent problem in the Christian life that being in the centre of Gods will doesnt exclude the possibility of crisis, so when it comes wait on the Lord and dont throw in the towel in unbelief. A Change of scenery. Joseph was in prison, falsely accused and isolated. Elijah: The Moulding goes on and on and . At Cherith, we realise that it is God that is strong and we who . This must have come as a surprise to the prophet. (1 Kings 17:5) To the functionally minded, Elijah's prolonged stay by the brook Cherith looks like a waste of a promising life. In this way, God taught Elijah to depend on God . 65% off Any Hat Pack at AlphaDefenseGear.com 1 Alpha Defense logo hat + 3 face shields just $29.99! For Elijah every raven visit was a reminder not only of Gods loving provision but of Gods loving presence with him as well. This brook was not far from where he lived. We need to remember that and confess that Gods way are always right, His purposes are always good and that we can trust God in even the tragic events of life that we can never fully understand here on this earth. When you think about your life as a Christian, has God ever failed to meet your needs? As we are reminded in John 15 where Jesus said, The answer lies in the fact that God is not just interested in imparting faith; He is interested in its development, in its improvement. Though they will look they will not be able to find him. What was God doing? That a word came from God to move on to a more public location to exercise his ministry indicated that he had passed these lessons learnt in the private place. Remember Saul as he talked with the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus? He raised a boy from the dead and called down fire from heaven. Last time we looked at the state of Israel at the time Elijah came on the scene. Eventually one day it dried up! Once more God is found reacting to a state of things amongst His Own people, rising up in Divine discontent, and, as always, laying His hand upon an instrument for recovery. She said that my dog was really obedient as it was never too far away but was always watching what I was doing. Looking again at the 1st verse of this chapter, we noticed that it was a small thing for Elijah to stand before Ahab because he had stood before the King of Kings. This was a time of severe drought. We all need to learn to spend time alone with God. During his exile, Elijah drank from the brook in the ravine, and the ravens brought him bread and meat . Have any of you ever been fed by birds? At last nothing is impossible. Elijah, in tune with the revealed will of God had prayed that God would fulfil His curse upon His rebellious people not so they might suffer, but that through their suffering they might return to God in repentance, and God be glorified in His mercy and grace by a people renewed in obedience to and worship of God. The Ministry of Elijah (1 Kings 17) By T. Austin-Sparks. Though Ahab might have at first ridiculed Elijahs announcement, yet when neither of these rains fell in their season, he was incensed against the prophet as the cause of the national judgment, and compelled him, with Gods direction, to consult his safety in flight. I really can't go anywhere without him following me! Elijah is told by the Lord to go into hiding by the brook Cherith, a tributary of the river Jordan. Ahab and Jezebel were the most wicked and evil rulers Israel had ever known. In a dry season, in a time of drought, a brook is a source of life sustaining water and refreshment. As I was thinking about this, I noticed the simplicity of it. Mentioned first in Genesis, 1 Kings 11:1 also reiterates God founding Israel through Abram (Abraham), 1 Kings gives a preview of 22 years of Israel's history with 15 kings. ( 1 Kings 17:2,5) God led him to Cherith, and then God led him out of Cherith. The promise God gave him was that he would be provided for there. Elijah arose and went to Wadi Cherith, where the ravens brought him bread and meat (v. 2). What if we see the hard times coming in advance? An example of provision from the life of a great saint. (4) You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." Instantly the word of the Lord came to him and he was told to flee to Cherith and hide there. Last week we noted that by sending Elijah to the Brook Cherith God was doing several things He was declaring to Ahab and the nation an act of judgment, such that the Word of God which had been despised was now removed, a famine of the Word; and he was declaring to Elijah that he could fully depend on God and His Word, and daily finding opportunity to exercise faith, and that continually despite outward circumstances. 6. 250 combinations! Occurrences like this happened for George Mueller who, through faith in God, provided for the children constantly, all through their life and they never failed to have what they needed. Cherith was a place of private preparation for Elijah before he met Jezebel's 450 Baal prophets at Mt. 1Kings 17:4. God led Elijah to a dry land called Cherith east of the Jordan (1 Kings 17:3). This blogs purpose is to be an evangelical outreach to further the kingdom of Christ. They will neglect their young yet when God pleases they will feed His prophet. So Elijah comes into his presence and brings this word of judgement to Ahab. 1 Kings 17:3 Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.. And God loves you far more than these things! Do you go running off to look for water? They sat down and gave thanks (without there being any food!) Even with those things that never come clear to us we can still trust His goodness in them; we can rest in the confidence that God is doing and always does what is right. He just went and did what he was told. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel (1 Kings 18:45 NLT). Now she can look back and say 'I can see God's hand in that'. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.'"1 Kings 17:2-4. God allows events to transpire in everyday life that has a tendency to test faith. Let us never presume that we will always have the opportunities we now have. 17 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. We need to wait on God as Elijah did and let Him tell us what we should do. Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, Elijah - The background and introduction to his times, The Widow at Zarephath and the Provision of God, Elijah, resurrection and the fear of Ahab. Brook-Cherith.com was launched . It is a spiritual law of thermodynamics: the increase of heat upon faith produces a parallel increase expansion of faith. The story of Joseph is one of the most amazing stories - he went from prison to the right hand of the ruler of Egypt in one day, but God had His reasons for putting Joseph there. It is not detailed how Elijah traveled (whether on foot or by animal), but it is detailed that Elijah followed God even to the heart of this city where Jezebel was murdering the prophets of God--knowing full well that he could be next. But there were years and years of isolation in obscurity. That stream turned into a trickle, which would have then turned into a puddle, which then turned into a handful and then into a small sip. Has God forgotten me?. (6) The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. After 40 days of that travel, one would have gone 1,200 to 1,440 miles, which would be enough to take one far . We will continue with that next time and glean from the lessons that can be learnt there. 100+ hat options: choose from boonie, beanie, trapper or snapback styles. 6 He drank water from the brook, and ravens brought him bread and meat every morning and every evening. That which had driven him to hunt Christians, now drove him to serve Christ. Morning Service, 24th May 2009. When the streams of provision turn into trickles 1 Kings 17:7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 1 Kings 17:5-6 So he did what the LORD had told him. Despite the outward appearances of peace and prosperity, Elijah declared this reality to the godless king Ahab, stressing that it would continue until Elijah once more came to the king. There was no water! Though great and terrifying are temporal judgements upon a people, none is so great as the removal of His Word and instruction and prayer based on that Word. Did his hopes diminish also? The other side of this is that if we would wield great power for God we must win it in some hidden Cherith. Those dark shadows on the horizon may well be Gods ravens. Answers in Genesis book: The NEW Answers Book 1. Birds of prey more likely to take meat from him (including of his bones) than to feed him. a brook E. of the Jordan, Elijah's hiding-place. Gods purpose throughout all of time has been to redeem for Himself a people that are His very own. What did he do down there? After a while, the brook dried up that had provided Elijah with the nourishment of water. In v.2 we read "Then the word of the Lord came to him". But according to the actual account in the Old Testament the drought was not even a full three years. It is a cutting of all the things of the self-life so that Elijah (and you and I) can be used of God. God was in control, He would not let His servant suffer needlessly. Did Jesus know from the outset that He was the Son of God or did Mary tell Him? The contacts that she made there in that year, have led her in a completely different direction which she enjoys far more. It will be the same for you. The showdown: Elijah vs the prophets of Baal! He had 300 children at one of his orphanages one morning and they didn't have one thing to eat. God is disciplining Israel with a drought. Easy. Our natural inclination would be to begin to think of the next task. He waited for God to speak to him. US English. Im just answering your prayer. Youve asked, Lord make me like Your Son and thats what He is doing! Do you know what the first thing Jesus said to them was? One explanation for the alleged contradiction depends on this: rather than the "third year of the drought," the text is referring to the third year of Elijah's residence in Zarephath (1 Kings 17:9), where is staying at the end of 1 Kings 17. This is where we should always strive to be: to be and doing where and what God in His Word calls us to. Having passed one grade in the school of faith, it was now time for the next. How can we be sure the Old Testament is accurate if Elijah was the only prophet left? Three times in the opening verses we have the phrase the Word of the Lord (v.2, 5 and also v.8). More importantly, here he would be alone with God. After all, as his name indicates, his God is Jahweh. Have we not know this in our own Christian service? js photo studios. So for Elijah this is a test of faith because it is one step at a time. So we see Elijah secreting himself away in territory familiar to him, but clearly one in which he would be hard to find. God can bring a blessing through an unclean vessel because the entire world is His. Over the course of the 22 years covered in 1 Kings, Israel has 20 kings that are wicked in God's sight. (ii) the right perspective he waited, which evidences a deep sense of humility and dependence upon God. Did his songs of worship grower weaker as the water rolled less noisily across the rocky bed? The third thing that interests me here is that God led him to a brook that was drying up. And indeed, twice daily, in the morning and in the evening, the ravens came and brought him bread and meat from the royal table of the King of Judah . There was too much of Saul about it his desire, his enthusiasm, his determination as to what comes next and how it will be done. On The Road With Elijah To Zarephath (Pt.1) (2 of 13) Series: On the Road with Elijah Ken Trivette 1 Kings 17:8-16 Outline 1. Jesus instructs us to consider the birds of the air and how they are provided for. rev2023.1.17.43168. How easy in such times our joy quickly turns to sadness! When we are living in Gods revealed will remember secondly that this, 2. Now this too was affected. The brook that had provided him so much nourishment and tranquility had dried up and God was pressing him forward. He then got converted and felt God's leading to start orphanages in England during the 1800's. Or 'Why the brook Cherith?' Only in that most unlikely place and nowhere else, not where we would have chosen as a likely haven! Can I (an EU citizen) live in the US if I marry a US citizen? Be like Elijah trust and wait and Gods Word of guidance and help will come! It doesnt come easy. There would be none here for Elijah to be tempted to parade himself before. "From Cherith to Zarephath" Sermon by Oby Ballinger All Saints Sunday Edina Morningside Community Church; October 30, 2016 1 Kings 17:1-16 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before This is the second message on Elijah and we are in 1 Kings chapter 17. The downward slide - from faith to fear to depression, Blindness, self focus and the replacing of Elijah, Elijah, Ahab and the arrow shot at random. They employed 850 prophets of Baal and his . The stream is popularly known as Brook Cherith (NYPL b10607452 80363) RM FJR99Y - Elijah is fed by ravens, 1 Kings chapter XVII verses 5 - 6 '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. He had been to the court of this king as the Ambassador of the King of kings, he had done something that was not only courageous, it was spiritually significant. It was a time of isolation when he had no resources of his own. Elijah was commanded to depart from Samaria, to . Last week we noted that by sending Elijah to the Brook Cherith God was doing several things - He was declaring to Ahab and the nation an act of judgment, such that the Word of God which had been despised was now removed, a famine of the Word; and he was declaring to Elijah that he could fully depend on God and His Word, and daily finding opportunity to . He led him to a place of provision, but that provision wasn't going to last. US English. Elijah gets a command to go to Zarephath and the widow gets a command to feed Elijah; God promises to sustain Elijah and Elijah promises the widow that her cruse of meal will never finish. God saw the need for Elijah to keep things in perspective, and there is nothing like quiet times where we are alone with the Lord to help us find that. Having passed one grade in the school of faith, it was now time for the next. Since our start, we've aided two companies in their pursuit to help victims of human trafficking and have donated over $1,000 to The Exodus Road as well as made donations to spread the Gospel by partnering with Living Waters and Answers in Genesis. Before Elijah could stand on Mount Carmel, he needed to sit by the brook. God was calling him forward, out of his silence. We are not forsaken. Login . But God will not share His glory, so Elijah is told to go to a lonely place. Gods word through His prophet is removed. 1 /5. - 1 Kings 18:40 : Elijah asks God for heavy rains to end the drought. If at this time you have yielded to this temptation to throw in the towel of faith and to rely on your own thoughts or on someone else, if your zeal for Christ has diminished, your spirit of devotion is dying, if you find no delight in prayer, nothing to give praise and thanksgiving for, and can find nothing about you to stir you up and encourage you remember Him who said of His vineyard in Isaiah 27:3, Intentionally Biblical, Confessional, Presbyterian and Reformed, Church Planting and School of Discipleship, Philippines. Because the entire world is his experts in christianity and those interested in learning more himself before of. In this way, God taught Elijah to depend on God with that next time and from. Actually too much of self in what they had just been doing Elijah the..., by the Lord ( v.2, 5 and also v.8 ) what I was thinking this! 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