OBEDIENCE AND THE WORD OF GOD A) Able to Hear God's Voice B) Available to Hear God's Voice 2. a brook E. of the Jordan, Elijah's hiding-place. Since our start, we've aided two companies in their pursuit to help victims of human trafficking and have donated over $1,000 to The Exodus Road as well as made donations to spread the Gospel by partnering with Living Waters and Answers in Genesis. Cherith. It is a place where you are completely cut off and are totally dependent upon God and His resources. (ii) the right perspective he waited, which evidences a deep sense of humility and dependence upon God. In answering this let us note that Elijah's removal was: 1. a cutting; separation; a gorge, a torrent-bed or winter-stream, a "brook," in whose banks the prophet Elijah hid himself during the early part of the three years' drought ( 1 Kings 17:3 1 Kings 17:5).It has by some been identified as the Wady el-Kelt behind Jericho, which is formed by the junction of many streams flowing from the mountains west of Jericho. Her faith in Elijah's words saved her life and that of her son. It was a time of isolation when he had no resources of his own. Elijah had just declared there would be no rain in Israel until he said so, and Ahab wasn't a very forgiving ruler. Daniel. The promise God gave him was that he would be provided for there. Is every feature of the universe logically necessary? Occurrences like this happened for George Mueller who, through faith in God, provided for the children constantly, all through their life and they never failed to have what they needed. The Bible says, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours" (James 5:17); it also says he confronted idolatry, performed miracles, spoke God's judgment, and changed his world. The "brook Cherith" (NASB), or the "ravine Kerith" (NIV), was one of the many waddies or ravines that emptied its waters into the Jordan from the mountains to the east. Yet God proved Himself adequate. when suddenly there was a knock on the door and a baker was there who said 'God has kept me awake all night and I knew I had to bake an extra three batches of bread for you.' 1 Kings 17:3 Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.. God rises up Elijah, a Tishbite (a resident of Tishbe), to be a prophet to Israel. This was six months after the king was told there would be neither dew nor rain, and from this period the three years in this passage are computed. Elijah demonstrated his complete dependence on God by waiting for Him to tell him what to do next. Putting faith to action keeps it from becoming stagnant. This may seem like a tall order, but today's believers have a similar opportunity. God can bring a blessing through an unclean vessel because the entire world is His. He said. Eventually one day it dried up! 100+ hat options: choose from boonie, beanie, trapper or snapback styles. So it was in this context that Elijah came to speak forth the word of judgement in the presence of Ahab. In the Bible, the brook Cherith was the place God sent Elijah to be sustained by God during the severe drought brought on Israel in the time of King Ahab. It's like that with us. For Elijah every raven visit was a reminder not only of Gods loving provision but of Gods loving presence with him as well. Look at 1 Kings 17:2-3. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years The Lord told Elijah, the man of God, to go down to the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan, where he could drink of the brook, and the ravens would bring him food. This is one of the great lessons from the life of Elijah. He was faithful though the circumstance was not ideal from a human perspective. But it's not acting out of fear. Elijah didnt get his local hiking map out and go looking for another source of water, waterholes which he may have known about from previous travels in this area. Then he went through a type of crucible at a place called Zarephath. How do we build on it. In the light of this we are to understand that the drying brook was an important trial to see if he had learnt the lessons up to this point which he had. 1 and 2 Kings make up one book in the Hebrew Bible, split into two books in the English translations. Now we now that Elijah was not here at the brook Cherith because he was running away from risky ministry; nor because he thought it wise or best, in fact he may have thought otherwise. He had 300 children at one of his orphanages one morning and they didn't have one thing to eat. As Elijah thought How come it is drying up? the answer would have come because I prayed for it! In the same why when we ask God what happened His reply is Nothing. The evidence in support of the Bible: The Lie: Evolution/Millions of Years. God had spoken to this nation. Elijah: The Moulding goes on and on and . My wife, Wendy, actually shared on this passage about a year ago. The word of the Lord came to him 'Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith which is east of the Jordan'. God leads us all differently, but one thing we do need is to hear from God. For the full chapter, please see Bible Gateway. Australian . This Bible lesson is targeted for an older elementary Sunday School . Elijah could have thought that perhaps he should try to find a better place but this would have been a case of him trying to help God out in his own wisdom. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.". Now we will see what God does through Elijah. I have been saved 21 years now and I can honestly say that I have lacked nothing that I actually needed. Detailed in this book is the timeline of kings that ruled Israel after David's reign, opening with David's death, and God's discipline and grace with the nation of Israel. Yet it did. Alistair Begg. He said, Lord what will you have me to do? (Acts 9:6). Eventually, God told Elijah to move forward after his waiting time at the brook of Cherith. I see another principle here in scripture - sometimes God tells you ahead of time what is going to happen. On a purely physical level, it functions (unlike the Jordan) as a place far away and hidden from King Ahab who was seeking Elijah's life because of the drought. It is so easy to think that God has forgotten us, or to enter in a false morbid introspection of blaming ourselves for some error when in fact God may merely be saying it is time to learn a new lesson in the school of faith. His prophecy was that there would be no rain for 3 1/2 years, and there would not be any dew either - unless he said so. It is a spiritual law of thermodynamics: the increase of heat upon faith produces a parallel increase expansion of faith. That is what a 'Cherith' is. It is described as being "before," that is "east," of Jordan. Despite the outward appearances of peace and prosperity, Elijah declared this reality to the godless king Ahab, stressing that it would continue until Elijah once more came to the king. British. CHERITH, THE BROOK kr' th ( , LXX , meaning brook of cutting).A stream or valley E of the Jordan. Think of the obstacles to faith: Ravens! He was to drink the brook water and eat bread and meat that the ravens would bring him there. If I am in the shower he is waiting for me. It is a place of humbling before the mighty hand of God. But Elijah didn't have to be fully trained before God called him into ministry; God developed Elijah as he went along. In this God moves us more into the centre of Gods will, or moves us into something better. When our actions are regulated by the Word of God and our lives are lived in the centre of His will, we have nothing whatsoever to fear. I really can't go anywhere without him following me! (iii) trust God contrary to sight he waited. Cherith. We too know times when though we are in the will of God, and know so because we are being obedient to the Word of God, we will find things suddenly change and enjoyments evaporate. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. (4) You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." Instantly the word of the Lord came to him and he was told to flee to Cherith and hide there. He always drew aside. Jesus instructs us to consider the birds of the air and how they are provided for. Elijah arose and went to Wadi Cherith, where the ravens brought him bread and meat (v. 2). Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, livesthe God I servethere will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word! (1 Kings 17:1 NLT), Later on, IN THE THIRD YEAR of the drought, the LORD said to Elijah, Go and present yourself to King Ahab. This view merits the preference as the simplest and most natural one, and is shown to be the oldest by Luke 4:25 and James 5:17, where Christ and James both say, that in the time of Ahab it did not rain for three years and six months. Though they will look they will not be able to find him. It is not a declaration that He has forgotten His promise to all His people in Lam 3:22-23 that His loving-kindness will not fail, that they are new every morning. Here he was to be alone for at least a year without human company. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. But its impact is also felt by Elijah, by which we see that God had in mind for Elijah to learn another lesson of faith. (4) You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.". He went through a kind of boot camp at the brook Cherith. So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. It also teaches us that life is not meaningless, there is always more to do. Sometimes a Cherith experience is there to get the world out of us. That judgement was the application of the curse. Human Rights Awareness | Christian Outreach Ministry. "Of the brook you will drink, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you", Gd promised him. The Ministry of Elijah (1 Kings 17) By T. Austin-Sparks. The Story of Elijah and the Cherith Brook, The 100 Mile Journey From the Dried Up Brook, "Trusting God in Difficult Times" by Community Bible Church at their YouTube Channel, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/251990541632996864/, https://www.youtube.com/user/cbcofbeaufort. Instantly the word of the Lord came to him and he was told to flee to Cherith and hide there. God was determined that it will last for the full distance He had decreed. Hence, in having Elijahs presence and hearing Elijahs word, they were being given the ministry of God, hearing the Word of God. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate this on the contrary the implication is that he waited. Last week we noted that by sending Elijah to the Brook Cherith God was doing several things - He was declaring to Ahab and the nation an act of judgment, such that the Word of God which had been despised was now removed, a famine of the Word; and he was declaring to Elijah that he could fully depend on God and His Word, and daily finding opportunity to . You don't see Elijah debating with God about the direction he should go. Can there be any richer place in this world? For similar articles please see the below publications. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. No copyright infringement is intended. This is how God trains His young eaglets to fly. God uses Elijah's time at the brook Cherith to teach Elijah even more about being a servant of God. Think of the obstacles to faith: Intentionally Biblical, Confessional, Presbyterian and Reformed, Church Planting and School of Discipleship, Philippines. 1) God commanded and the ravens came. Can I (an EU citizen) live in the US if I marry a US citizen? So for Elijah this is a test of faith because it is one step at a time. This was a time of severe drought. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you" (1 Kings 17:2-9, NASB). I was just thinking about how God speaks to me when I walk my dog. How are we to interpret this hiding of Elijah by the brook Cherith? God provided for the whole lot. How we should make use of the opportunities God gives us lest they be taken from us. In v.2 we read, Though great and terrifying are temporal judgements upon a people, none is so great as the removal of His Word and instruction and prayer based on that Word. God's provision and blessing was at Cherith. The God who gives water can also withhold it. How easy it is to make the service which God trusts us with a pedestal on which to display ourselves. Would Marx consider salary workers to be members of the proleteriat? Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. One explanation for the alleged contradiction depends on this: rather than the "third year of the drought," the text is referring to the third year of Elijah's residence in Zarephath (1 Kings 17:9), where is staying at the end of 1 Kings 17. We are also to note that Elijah continued in the centre of Gods will for he stayed at the brook for a long period as shown by Gods fulfilment of His promise. What this clearly indicates is that Ahab had not changed, he was still hardened in sin of rebellious unbelief. It is one of the hardest trials that can possibly come upon us when, having been placed in the middle of comforts and just beginning to enjoy them, that we suddenly lose them. Three times in the opening verses we have the phrase the Word of the Lord (v.2, 5 and also v.8). Well Elijah didn't - he stayed put. Carmel in 1 Kings 18:20-39). Wall shelves, hooks, other wall-mounted things, without drilling? Alistair Begg. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh . You can be the one to help make a difference by purchasing a shirt (coming soon to the blog in a few weeks) or by ordering a downloadable product currently in the store, in which proceeds will go to nonprofits that seek to give a voice to the voiceless. The above picture shows the distance of Zarephath to the Cherith brook. By implication then, the removal of Elijah form the scene was not merely a symbolic but indeed a literal removal of the voice of God from the people. Breathable, durable, lightweight. God was directing him there to strengthen his faith and the faith of a widow that lived here with her son. Has that not been the portion of the Lords people when instead of rebelling of their isolation through the bed of sickness or cell of persecution? As I was thinking about this, I noticed the simplicity of it. Do you know what the first thing Jesus said to them was? He stayed put right up until the brook dried up completely! Build your pack now! He waited for God to speak to him. He would go to Mt Carmel and achieve great things for God, but first he needed an education so God sends him to Cherith and to Zarapeth. In this even Jesus was not exempt, for in Hebrews 5:8 we read that He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Elijah was not running away, he was being removed. Elijah lived on the word of the Lord, as we should - Matthew 4:4, and compare 1 Kings 17:8, 14 and 16. Look at verses 8-10. 3. anthony dawson milford high school; plato quotes on leadership; secondary consumer in a food web If Elijah had yielded to such things his faith wouldve also dried up, and his confidence wouldve disappeared like the brook. Build your pack now. Either approach addresses the apparent contradiction, and some commentators, such as John Wesley, mention both and do not express a preference. Our relationship with God is not like the army where we are told what to do so we obey, otherwise we are going to be doing 40 press ups or running around a field forever. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Below is a sermon by Community Bible Church entitled "Trusting God in the Difficult Times," covering 1 Kings 17:1-7. 6 He drank water from the brook, and ravens brought him bread and meat every morning and every evening. In v.2 we read "Then the word of the Lord came to him". God Led Elijah. VERSES: 1 Kings 17:1-7 MEMORY VERSE: 1 Kings 17:4 ".thou shalt drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." BOOK TO REMEMBER: Song of Solomon.Write "Song Of Solomon" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of class. Gods purpose throughout all of time has been to redeem for Himself a people that are His very own. Only 13 left in stock! So what do you do personally when you see your brook drying up? From where did the ravens bring meat? It's out of relationship that we do these things because our Master loves us and we love the Master. This brook was not far from where he lived. Even a river would have been regarded as insufficient. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to worry about what you are going to eat or what you are going to drink. God knows that faith only develops under pressure. He just committed everything to God. The Bible scholars teach Elijah enjoyed food and water at Cherith for a year before the brook dried up. It is actually at the crisis point when there is nothing left that the Word of the Lord came to him. By it Elijah was to learn to fix his attention on God not Gods instruments. There are 12 kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and 3 kings of the Southern Kingdom (the Kingdom of Judah). 4 The brook will supply you with water to drink, and I have commanded ravens to bring you food there." 5 Elijah obeyed the Lord 's command, and went and stayed by Cherith Brook. This is the crying need of our times for there is a great deal of talking but little walking according to Divine precepts and directions. There is no doubt a measure of foresight behind this for as the reality of the drought increasingly set in and began to cost king and nation it would be matched by an increasing hatred of Elijah. We need to wait on God as Elijah did and let Him tell us what we should do. It is here we find a conscience calmed by the Prince of Peace. For it was from here that Elijah began the journey to Mt Carmel. Remember, in verse 1, Elijah confronted King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. The fact is that God leads His servants one step at a time. ( 1 Kings 17:2,5) God led him to Cherith, and then God led him out of Cherith. The stream is popularly known as Brook Cherith (NYPL b10607452 80363) RM FJR99Y - Elijah is fed by ravens, 1 Kings chapter XVII verses 5 - 6 '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. Encyclopedia. Elijah and the Brook Cherith (2 of 5) Series: Bible Brooks Ken Trivette 1 Kings 17:1-7 Outline 1. Let us remember that though such times may come upon us unexpectantly, but they are never unexpected to God. Though great and terrifying are temporal judgements upon a people, none is so great as the removal of His Word and instruction and prayer based on that Word. And in that he certainly had a taste of heaven, of communion with God. Originally posted at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/251990541632996864/. But according to the actual account in the Old Testament the drought was not even a full three years. Do you remember the story of His disciples when they went out to preach and did all these wonderful miracles and came back to Him really glorying in all that had happened? 6. Check map and driving Directions from the brook cherith to Zarephath helping you find the destination easier. After the brook dries up God lead Elijah to the widow in Zarephath where He provides a never-ending supply of oil and flour. Each appearance of the ravens was a reminder of being in Gods will, and in God was ministering to him through those unlikely instruments, and even in that apparently unlikely place of isolation. in 1 Kings 17:2 and 3 we read: And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan. Is this how we look at the trials in our Christian life as tests in Gods school of faith aimed to see if we have learned faiths lessons taught up to this point in our Christian life and are able to put them into practice? Morning Service, 24th May 2009. Jesus was the same. The other side of this is that if we would wield great power for God we must win it in some hidden Cherith. It is the struggle of Cherith that sets up the sequence of command, promise, obedience and deferred results in Zarephath. See His absolute sovereignty and power that even birds contrary to natural instincts do His bidding on behalf of His people. That Elijah learned his lesson well is seen in what he said to the widow in v.13,14. Dont throw in the towel but wait on the Lord. What we see in Elijah is that even though he didnt know what was going to happen next. He just went and did what he was told. 1 Kings 17:2-4 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: (3) Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. Ahab went along with her in everything she proposed, even setting up an idol in the house of Baal in Samaria. Jesus did the same with His disciples at the end of a tour of ministry, so full were they of the joy of success of their ministry, what they had been involved in: We ought not be surprised if our Father says. He was being removed by God. Moderate. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15, Church Mail: PO Box 9007, South Yarra 3141, It is against this background that now we consider v.2-6, in which we see Elijah in response to Gods instruction leaving the kings presence and going to the Brook Cherith.