14 Days in the Company of Elijahનમૂનો

Day 1: Birds and Brooks (1 Kings 16:30–33; 17:1–6)

The first recorded words of Elijah were a message of judgment delivered to King Ahab. This king of Israel has already been introduced in the harshest of terms: “But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him” (I Ki. 16:30, NLT). And the kings before him, including his own father, were a pretty bad bunch! But Ahab, with his blatant idolatry, “did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him” (1 Ki 16:33, NLT).

To this kind of king, God sends Elijah with harsh words: “As the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during the next three years except by my command!” (1 Ki 17:1, CSB). At the outset of the long and tension-filled relationship between Elijah and Ahab, we learn some important things.

1. First, Ahab is not as “large and in charge” as he thinks he is—we are reminded who the true Sovereign is.
2. Second, Elijah is bold and courageous, willing to speak God’s message to power, even when it comes as a very unwelcome promise of severe drought, for which people might blame the king.
3. But perhaps the most important thing we see in this episode comes in the second word of the Lord to Elijah (1 Ki 17:3–4). God tells his prophet to go and hide near the Kerith brook—he knows that Ahab will try to take out his fury on Elijah, but the Lord isn’t done with the prophet yet, so he sends him away for a time.

And this protection plan comes complete with miraculous provision: “Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food” (1 Ki 17:4, NLT). And just as Elijah was faithful to deliver God’s word to Ahab, so now he is faithfully obedient when he himself is the object of the divine command. “So Elijah did as the Lord told him” (1 Ki 17:5, NLT), and he had the experience of receiving bread and meat, morning and evening, from winged waiters. At the outset of our journey with Elijah, we walk alongside a man who is wonderfully attuned to God’s voice.