Elijah sat down by the brook Cherith. He saw just what you see when you sit by the brook; water and stones and grass and trees. But Elijah. was not thinking about, all this. He was much troubled because Israel and their wicked king had forgotten. God, and he had prayed earnestly that God would withhold the rain from these guilty people.
So it did not rain. The fields and gardens were dry, and the people were starving. God told Elijah to stay there by the brook Cherith, and there he stayed, satisfying his thirst from the water of the brook. Every morning and every evening, God sent big black birds, called ravens, to bring bread and flesh for His servant’s food. Elijah stayed there for a long time.
After a while, the brook dried up, and he had no water at all. Did he pray for rain then? No, he didn’t, he just waited until God told him where to go next. It is very sweet to see how God took care of that man, and to know that the very same God is taking care of us too. Why should we worry about the weatherm, or about food or money, or even atomic bombs? Is not God caring for us as He did for Elijah?
It is good to see how obedient Elijah was to the Word of God, and how he longed to see the Lord’s people return to their God. It was more important to him than his own food and drink. He was willing to sit alone and watch his last drop dry up, rather than live in plenty, while God’s own people were daily turning away to other gods. Dear reader, are you turning away from the Lord, like the people of Israel, or have you turned to the Lord? Have you turned to Him as the One who alone can meet your need as a guilty sinner, and cleanse you from your sins in His precious blood?
Well, the brook dried up, but you may he sure Elijah did not die of thirst. God provided for him. You shall hear more of him next week, if the Lord will, or you may read the story for yourself in 1 Kings 17.
ML 10/28/1951