1 Kings 17:1-16 “God’s Ways or Our Ways?”
In the context of a deteriorating culture and declining Spiritual vitality and moral fiber, God sends the prophet Elijah. He was an ordinary man with a nature like ours (James 5:17-18) operating in the supernatural. This man God calls to speak correction to Ahab as the leader of this decaying culture. “…’As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, BEFORE WHOM I STAND [capitols for emphasis], surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.’” (1b, c) After Elijah delivered this word, God instructed him to move “…and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” (3b, c). This would involve living outside the “promised land.” There he would be fed by ravens sent from God [who normally feed off unclean dead carcasses]. But it was the Word of the Lord! He obeyed God explicitly and yet the river dried up and then God sent him to a poor widow in Zarephath [under Sidon – Jezebel’s home]. No, she was not a rich widow, but a poor foreigner about to run out of food. By the word of the Lord, asked her to feed himself first and then she was given a promise her supply would never run out. All of these moves were extremely contrary to logic but came from standing before the Lord! As we face challenging times, we must not lean on logic and trust in our own ways, but remain standing before the Lord and obey Him fully (Prov. 3:5-8). His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). The greatest wisdom comes from standing before God and not relying on the logic arising from our analysis.
