There have always been two types of prophets. Kings, dictators, and elected heads of state have frequently had spiritual leaders who told them what they wanted to hear. It is very hard to speak truth to the most powerful individual in the land, and it is often profitable to give them the news they desire.
We remember the names of famous prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha, and the like. We seldom recall the names of the prophets-for-hire that dotted the landscape of Israel and Judah.
The prophets who are historically famous have one common trait. They spoke the word of the Lord in the face of persecution and grave danger. They show us the role of the prophet is to deliver God’s word to the powerful, in contrast to the false prophets.
Prophets feared God more than humans. However, that didn’t mean they undertook their responsibilities without anxiety. Imagine how Elijah felt when we confronted Ahab with these words.
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).
God’s Word – Hide
Elijah delivered God’s word to the king, because God commanded him to do so. God also commanded His prophet to go into hiding.
The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there” (1 Kings 17:2-4).
I wonder how God communicated his message to the prophets. Did it come with an audible voice, a dream, or an internal sense of what course of action to take?
I think Elijah could easily understand the need to go into hiding. Ahab was ruthless and would have no problem killing him.
Having ravens be the servers who attended you by the wadi, was probably very problematic. They were listed among unclean birds in Leviticus 11:13-15 and Deuteronomy 14:14, and forbidden to be eaten by Hebrews.
If you’ve ever seen a bird eating “road kill,” you have an idea of where ravens found their food. I doubt if Elijah’s banquet by the wadi was considered a five-star restaurant.
Taking the Lord’s Direction
Before the days of FM radio, I used to listen to a preacher out of Del Rio Texas. I remember Reverend Ike telling his audience, “You can’t lose with the stuff I use.” The Reverend was more than likely a snake oil salesman with the stuff he used.
From the right perspective, we can’t lose if we use the word of the Lord, even when it involves eating a raven-delivered meal.
Elijah knew this and followed God’s directions completely.
So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the wadi (1 Kings 17:5-6).
God’s School in the Wilderness
God’s servants have often found the wilderness to be a place where they learned how to better follow the Lord.
The wilderness may be an actual location. After His baptism, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness. He spent the time in prayer and fasting.
When the devil attempted to tempt Jesus to follow his schemes, Jesus was prepared and perfectly remained obedient to His Father in heaven (Luke 4:1-13).
Suffering and hardship can be “wilderness” experiences for others. I remember hearing Richard Foster tell conference attendees that God allows the “cross-like” times in our lives. There are times, when God can only accomplish His work in us this way.
I hate the hard times that have taken place in my life. After several of these, I remember telling God when a particularly painful event took place, “OK, I know you want to do something in my life. What do you want me to know?”
As hard as that experience was, I knew God was in control. I tried as best as I was able to align my life with God’s will. God was teaching me another level of His grace and my called for obedience.
I hope none of us have to escape to a brook in the wilderness and have ravens bring us our meals. I do expect that we all will have wilderness-type events in our lives. When they come, may God give us the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit to recognize His activity and join Him in His work.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 