Elijah The Prophets "There"

1 Kings 17:2-4 gives us some insight into Elijah's trust in God and what it means to go to "there."  I would like to examine a portion of Elijah's life for a few moments and see what he did when it came to trusting God.  Sometimes we can miss what God has for us if we are not listening to His instructions. Elijah knew what God told him to do and without hesitation he went.  

The first thing we must understand about Elijah is that he was living in a terrible time to be someone who not only trusted in God but also to be a prophet.  So anything that God was instructing Elijah to do meant that he could well be put in harms way.  There is very little information about Elijah except he comes on the scene in chapter 17 of 1 Kings and that he was a Tishbite which made him an inhabitant of Gilead.  The first indication that he was a man of God is that God instructed him to approach Ahab, king during this time.  King Ahab and his wife Jezebel had been systematically killing all the prophets of the Lord, 1 Kings 18:13.  These two were feeding 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the groves at their expense each day, 1 Kings 18:19.  Their whole objective was to stamp out the worship of the one true God of Israel in favor of the pagan worship of Baal.  So you see, not a good time to be a prophet of the true God of Israel.  The Lord sent Elijah to Ahab to deliver a message of a drought that was soon to come, so Elijah went to Ahab knowing who he was and what could happen, but, Elijah did not waver, he delivered the message and by doing that put the crosshairs of Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel straight on his back.  

Now that the message was delivered, God told Elijah to leave and head eastward, The word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”  So Elijah did as he was instructed.  Now, I want you to notice that again Elijah did not hesitate, he went.  We don't know what was going through his mind though.  Maybe he was thinking about Ahab and what he might decide to do.  He could have been contemplating his route to the brook Cherith.  We just aren't told.  What we do know is that God told him that he would provide for him  "there."  Elijah had to know God and who He really was because Elijah did not pack provisions as far as we know.  The brook would provide water for him but God would provide everything else he would need.  So, off went Elijah to this new destination.  We also have to understand that Elijah did not know why he was going, he only knew that God would provide for him.  Elijah also knew that God had spoke His word and that was all that he needed to be courageous to do exactly what God instructed.  Elijah knew that God's word would accomplish the purpose it was sent out to accomplish.  

When we begin to understand the power in God's word we too like Elijah can become bold knowing that His word will bring forth what it was meant for.  We should have nothing to fear when we act on His word by being obedient to what He tells us to do.  In this portion of scripture we also see that God will provide for us.  Sometimes we have to listen to the His instructions and understand what God said.  What did God tell Elijah?  He said to him, go hide yourself by the brook, which would not only be a safe place, but it also provided him with water.  God said He would take care of him being fed.  This was Elijah's next step, to go "there."  Consider this for  a moment, what if Elijah would not have went "there?"  Remember, Ahab was a wicked king and was eliminating Gods prophets.  Chances are Elijah would have been the next one.  So Elijah took his next step following Gods instructions. Put yourself in his place, you are called by God to do something for Him and all you have is Gods word to go "there" and he will provide for you.  You may not want to do that, like must people you may try to figure out just how you are going to get there and how you are going take care of yourself and your family.  If we don't pay attention to Gods instructions and follow them then we may well miss out on His blessings.  Elijah knew God well enough to know that God would not let him down.  God told him He would provide "there."  We may not know the next step until we take the first one.  We may not understand why we are going "there' or understand how God is going to take care of us once we are "there."  God does not or should I dare to say, will not provide us with the next step until we reach the first "there" where His promised provisions are.

Look at how God told Elijah He would provide; “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”  If I was Elijah I would be a little hesitant as to Gods ways.  Really Lord, your going to have some birds provide for me, not only that, unclean birds? Elijah didn't blink an eye, he headed for the brook.  Today we have allowed the world to intimidate us and question the word that God has given us.  I mean ravens are going to feed me, that's not natural and does God really tell ravens what to do?  Let me consult my pastor or someone who understands these things.  There's nothing wrong with seeking counsel but in the end we must know that God has spoken and that is what we must do.  If Elijah had chosen not to go who would complete the next step that God had planned out.  Elijah went, and he stayed by the brook until it dried up, which from the time he arrived and the time God told him to go was around three years, 1 Kings 18:1.  He had not had another word from God all the while he was "there."  Elijah knew the brook would soon dry up because he told Ahab there was going to be drought for a few years.  Also, while Elijah was "there" I'm sure he could see the brook getting lower and lower until there was no water left.  Before Elijah was told to leave something happened that should open the eyes of every believer.  The woman who helped Elijah had lost her son.  She could not believe that this tragedy would befall her.  So Elijah prayed and raised the boy back to life.  God answered this prophets request.  Just another shadow or type of Christ's death burial and resurrection. Now that the water was gone God spoke again to Elijah telling him to go back to Ahab and tell him that He was going to send rain.  

When Elijah was headed for Ahab to present himself to the king, he meant Obadiah who was Ahab's palace administrator, and, Obadiah was also one who believed in the one true God, the God of Israel.  Ahab had sent him out on a mission to find food for the horses.  This is where Elijah and Obadiah met.  This is where we learn that Ahab had been searching far and wide for Elijah ever since the drought began: 1 Kings 18:9-14 “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth. Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”  From the point that Elijah returned to present himself to Ahab Elijah went with confidence in Gods word.  He never doubted what God had told him or did he waver in telling Gods word to those who were to hear it.  Now that he meant Ahab, Elijah spoke against the evil king and told him that he was the troublemaker of Israel and that he brought the drought on the land by not only worshiping Baal but causing the people of Israel to follow his lead, 1 Kings 18:18.  From there, Elijah put Gods word out for all to hear and see.  He challenged the people of Israel to make a choice and stop wavering between Baal and the God of Israel.  Elijah had full confidence in what God would do.  Elijah knew he operated under the power of the true, living God. Look at this portion of 1 Kings 18:18-29 where Elijah made a mockery out of the so called god Baal. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.  At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.  There was absolutely nothing political correct about this, Elijah not only spoke out against the false god, he mocked its worshippers and made fun of Baal.  A lesson we all need today.  God is still the one true God and He never wavers on His word.  Once God speaks His word it will accomplish that which it is sent out to do.  This demonstration or should I say manifestation of His word is what should be following every believer today.  Read Matthew 10:7-8 and let it soak in; As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.  This is the same God of Israel that Elijah trusted.  It is the same message we carry.  Notice in this verse who's responsibility it is to carry the message and who's responsibility it is to heal the sick, raise the dead, etc.  It is not God's responsibility to do these things, it is ours.  God placed His power in us, the same power that raised His son Jesus Christ from the dead, dwells in us.  He also gave us the authority to use this power, so if it is not getting done, then we are not going to "there" where God has been trying to get us to go.  As Elijah went with boldness wherever he went, His boldness came in the form of Gods word which has proven true throughout history.  It has never changed and never will.  Is God sending you to "there" with a message or a mission?? 

You cannot stand back and expect God to provide you with everything where you are when He said He would provide for you "there."  If we as believers are not willing to take the first step towards "there" then we cannot expect anything else to happen.  The first step is crucial in our walk towards Gods command.  Do you want to see the the sick healed, demons cast out, the blind to see, then you must in faith stretch out your hand and speak God's word into that person believing that God will deliver and His WORD will accomplish that which it was sent out to do.  

Isaiah 55:10-12; 

As the rain and the snow 

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

      and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Is this what you would desire in your life, to see Gods word active and alive in you accomplishing that which it was meant to do?  Then be bold like Elijah and step out in the faith that was placed in you, believe what God's word says and deliver the message that is burning in your heart.