AFTER AWHILE!

Friday, March 27, 2020

AFTER AWHILE!

1 Kings 17:2-7

2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5 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.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

           I wonder if Elijah the Tishbite was as fidgety as this preacher. I’ve been waiting patiently for 73 years for God go give me patience! I don’t mind “down time” when it is of my own choosing, but I can’t stand being slowed from my appointed rounds. Something akin to quiet rage boils inside.

           Elijah had been unbelievably busy in his disputes with King Ahab and his contest with the prophets of Baal. He had proclaimed that there would be no rain nor dew unless he said so. That made him instantly unpopular and so God told him to run and hide himself.

Warren Wiersbe said: “The Lord usually leads His faithful people a step at a time as they tune their hearts to His Word. God didn't give Elijah a three-year schedule to follow. Instead, He directed his servant at each critical juncture in his journey, and Elijah obeyed by faith.”

Three Years! That’s how long Elijah stayed by a run-off cut that would inevitably dry up. Three years he would wait, morning and evening, for the black birds to bring food. If you have seen the movie “Castaway” you have to wonder if Elijah found some “thing” to talk to.

Sometimes the only choice left to us is to wait. We wait for God to finish whatever it is He is doing. We fidget, spit, and whittle on the banks of a brook. There is nothing for us to do because we have already done it and are now waiting for our next assignment. In the meantime, God keeps us safe and provides for our needs.

Ps 37:3-5

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Dear Lord, after the dramatic conflict with the prophets of Baal, I think it would be difficult to do nothing. Yet, you have forced the world to stay at home for awhile. You have promised us protection and provision for which we give Thee thanks and praise. AMEN