Morning Service, 17 May 2009
Elijah’s means “the Lord is God.” Elijah’s ministry corresponded exactly to his name, for he was sent by God to confront the worship of Baal by God’s people, and to declare to Israel that the Lord was God and there was no other.
The first act of the battle scene, as it were, was Elijah the prophet of God standing as God’s ambassador in the very throne room of King Ahab making known God’s judgement to this ungodly King who not only built a temple for Baal in his capital but also actively pursued an anti-God policy which was aimed at the full and final eradication of anything to do with the God of Israel from his kingdom.
That judgement was the application of the curse
Drought conditions had begun. The fact that it didn’t yet look serious didn’t alter the fact. Elijah, in tune with the revealed will of God had prayed that God would fulfil His curse upon His rebellious people – not so they might suffer, but that through their suffering they might return to God in repentance, and God be glorified in His mercy and grace by a people renewed in obedience to and worship of God.
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.
It is against this background that now we consider v.2-6, in which we see Elijah in response to God’s instruction leaving the king’s presence and going to the Brook Cherith. This brook was not far from where he lived. In other words he was to return home, but not to the comforts of home for he is told to “hide” . 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. Here in the isolated region he would be safe from the searching and potentially murderous wrath of the king. So we see Elijah secreting himself away in territory familiar to him, but clearly one in which he would be hard to find.
How are we to interpret this hiding of Elijah by the brook Cherith? What was God doing? In answering this let us note that Elijah’s removal was:
1. An Act of Judgement
The first thing we notice here is that this was not Elijah’s idea, it was the Lord’s doing. Elijah was not running away, he was being removed. In v.2 we read “Then the word of the Lord came to him…” He was being removed by God.
No doubt in time it would work to his safety as we just noted, but there is no hint that Ahab was immediately seeking to deal with Elijah. No doubt he thought it was all a joke. But it was no joke.
It’s important here to note this against the background of v.1 where we read of the close identification between the word of the prophet and God – “my word” said Elijah – though it was God’s Word. Hence, in having Elijah’s presence and hearing Elijah’s word, they were being given the ministry of God, hearing the Word of God. 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. They had spurned it, now they will be deprived of it. In other words the drought was not merely going to be of water, but there would be a drought of the Word…
The nation had already had the ‘tap of refreshing moisture’ turned off, and now having been given a prophet he is immediately removed. Though they will look they will not be able to find him. God’s word through His prophet is removed.
But further, as a result it meant that the opportunity to apply some pressure on Elijah to pray for a shorting of the judgement was removed. God was determined that it will last for the full distance He had decreed. God was determined there would be none to stand in the gap.
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 woe betide then any church or nation when God removes His Word and its servants from it. How we should make use of the opportunities God gives us lest they be taken from us. Let us never presume that we will always have the opportunities we now have. Even in the letters to the 7 churches of Revelation this warning is given, a warning we do well to take seriously as a church (cf 2:5)!
2. An act of dependance
Elijah was destined for even greater heights of service, but he was not ready for that yet. 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. This removal was for the further preparation and equipping of his servant for what lay ahead of him.
Elijah had just had a very heady experience. He would have been high on adrenalin and on grace. He had been to the court of this king as the Ambassador of the King of kings, he had done something that was not only courageous, it was spiritually significant. God had spoken to this nation. Our natural inclination would be to begin to think of the next task. How do we build on it. But God says ‘Hide!’ Our natural response to this direction would have been to say ‘Hide – when there is so much to be done? We need to capitalise on this great start! We’ve challenged the king, let’s challenge the prophets of Baal next!..” We like to be in the middle of things. Go show yourself is easy – to hide yourself is hard!
The fact is that God lead’s His servants one step at a time. Remember Saul as he talked with the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus? He said, “Lord what will you have me to do?’ (Acts 9:6). There was a bold and even aggressive determination about him as he desired to serve the Lord. That which had driven him to hunt Christians, now drove him to serve Christ. But it was a self-originated zeal. There was too much of Saul about it – his desire, his enthusiasm, his determination as to what comes next and how it will be done. As such he was not yet right for the Lord’s service. How strange the reply must’ve been to him: “Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.’ Just one step at a time Saul – that’s how I operate. Don’t run ahead of Me, rather follow behind looking primarily to Me not to the work.
Have we not know this in our own Christian service? One step at a time.
By this method God makes us dependent upon Him rather than upon ourselves. If we knew the end from the beginning we might try to devise a better way of arriving at that end, we certainly would be tempted to run ahead of God. By this method we find ourselves looking to Him for more, learning by easy stages the habit of obedience and trust.
It also teaches us that life is not meaningless, there is always more to do. As we accomplish one thing from the Lord we neither give ourselves to idleness as if there is nothing more to do, nor do we give ourselves over to despair wondering how we will do what comes next for as we step out in faith we know we will find that God has prepared a stepping stone, and another… each appearing as we come to it.
3. An act of perspective
It is surely no coincidence that God lead him to a quiet place where the only continual sound would be the rippling of this brook. Here he was to be alone for at least a year without human company. More importantly, here he would be alone with God. We all need to learn to spend time alone with God. It doesn’t come easy. There are so many distractions that demolish our best plans. Sometimes God has to force us into it.
We need to see the value of it, which lies in it helps keep things in perspective. There would be none here for Elijah to be tempted to parade himself before. He can only talk about what had happened with God – now that will keep the fleshly pride down!
God saw the need for Elijah to keep things in perspective, and there is nothing like quiet times where we are alone with the Lord to help us find that. How easy it is to make the service which God trusts us with a pedestal on which to display ourselves. But God will not share His glory, so Elijah is told to go to a lonely place. 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: “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mk 6:31).
We ought not be surprised if our Father says, ‘You have had enough of this hurry, publicity and excitement. Go hide yourself by the Cherith of sick bed, of bereavement…’ We can be too strong, too full of ourselves for God to use, and so by the Cheriths God buries our self-centeredness.
The other side of this is that if we would wield great power for God we must win it in some hidden Cherith. For it was from here that Elijah began the journey to Mt Carmel. ‘The acquisition of spiritual power is impossible unless we hide ourselves from men and from ourselves in some gorge where we may absorb the power of the eternal God’ (Martin)
4. An act of faith
The place chosen was a great place for hiding but a challenge to survive there. Yet God proved Himself adequate. There was a brook for water, and at His command even the ravens helped provide for Elijah’s needs.
In this God was teaching Elijah to trust Him contrary to sight. Think of the obstacles to faith: Ravens! Birds of prey more likely to take meat from him (including of his bones) than to feed him. They live on carrion yet they will bring him wholesome food. They will neglect their young yet when God pleases they will feed His prophet. A Brook! This was a time of severe drought. Even a river would have been regarded as insufficient. How could it last? Yet it did. There! Only in that most unlikely place and nowhere else, not where we would have chosen as a likely haven!
By it Elijah was to learn to fix his attention on God not God’s instruments. If we are where God wants us to be then we can be assured that God will work and direct miracles rather than see us perish for lack!
At first we yield a timid obedience to the command of God which seems to involve a multitude of difficulties. But when we find that God is better than His Word our faith grows and we advance to further feats of faith and service. This is how God trains His young eaglets to fly. At last nothing is impossible. This is the key to Elijah’s experience and life.
As we leave this passage are we not lifted up in our vision to see the glory of the God we are called to trust? See His absolute sovereignty and power that even birds contrary to natural instincts do His bidding on behalf of His people. See His unsearchable wisdom in that if humans delivered food they may have divulged the hiding place, if dogs, morning and night, someone might have seen this curiosity and followed. But birds carrying food would’ve aroused no interest. See His unmatchable grace in that though He withdraws His Word from a people for a season yet He protects that Word and its servants for future ministry.
No matter the circumstances we will always find God adequate. Take heart. Those dark shadows on the horizon may well be God’s ravens. Be assured that God will never forsake you nor fail you. That Elijah learned his lesson well is seen in what he said to the widow in v.13,14.
Elijah not only preached God’s Word, he practised it – he went without hesitation. 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.