The Lord Of Ravens
Ravens and the Prophetby RobertWestonThe Provision of the LordChapter six'I havecommanded a widow in that place to supply youwith food.' (1 Kings 17:9)In a way, it must havebeen hard for Elijah to say goodbye to the familiar wadiof Cherith. It hurts when we have to leave places whichhave meant a lot to us, and where we have met the Lord –but when the Lord shows us that the time has come tomove on, we must never hold back. We are a pilgrimpeople. Nevertheless, we can imagine all sorts ofconflicting thoughts racing through Elijah’s mind as hetrudged across the wilderness. ‘A widow woman. How onearth will I recognise her?
How can she provide for me?’Tired and thirsty, it would have been understandable ifhe had allowed his mind to daydream as he drew near toZarephath. Perhaps God had some well-to-do widow livingin a palatial inheritance waiting to take care of him!The reality was far different.
As he reached theentrance to the town he met a widow in the last throesof starvation, forlornly preparing what she fullyexpected to be her last meal on earth.We can easily picture this scene. I saw a strikinglysimilar episode recently on television. An aged Albanianwidow had gathered a few pathetic twigs together in alast desperate attempt to keep warm.
She too had no foodleft to eat, and was gathering together the little shehad before settling down to die. That is the reality offamine, now as then. Few issues test our relationship with God more sharplythan material hardships. By making His servant dependentfor his lodging on a widow, the Lord was insisting onceagain that Elijah did not look to any earthly source tomeet his needs.
I sometimes think that the Lordspecialises in providing for us through means we wouldnot have chosen for ourselves.Let’s face it. Many of us only really begin to realisehow wonderfully the Lord has provided for us when Heappears to withhold His supplies of blessing.
Humannature being what it is, we take miracles that areendlessly repeated for granted. It was not long beforethe Israelites forgot the heavenly origin of their dailymanna, and started to complain that their diet wasmonotonous.When something that means a great deal to us is takenaway, there are strong temptations to think resentfulthoughts towards God. We may even begin to wonder ifwhat we had formerly considered to have been the Lord’smiraculous provision was not, in reality, merelysomething we had contrived by our own efforts.What happens to us may not be according to our wishes,but that is not to say that it is contrary to His will.The Lord’s deliverance comes neither too quickly nor toolate. His timing is as exquisite as the means ofaccomplishing His purposes are unforeseeable. Hisprovision, if not always abundant, will at least alwaysbe sufficient. Moreover, it comes from one day to thenext, as and when it is needed.
We cannot receive gracetoday to meet tomorrow’s needs. Buoyed up by the recollection of how God had sent him‘meals on ravens’ for as long as he had needed them, andheartened that the Lord had fulfilled the first part ofHis word by leading him to a widow, Elijah’s faith roseto the challenge. He trusted that the Lord must be ableto provide for them both. After all, God promises tomake a way forward in every test and difficulty that weface.(1)Elijah said toher, 'Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as youhave said. But first make a small cake of breadfor me from what you have and bring it to me,and then make something for yourself and yourson.
Reins Of The Raven Lord
For this is what the Lord, the God ofIsrael says: ‘The jar of flour will not be usedup, and the jug of oil will not run dry untilthe day the Lord gives rain on the land.’'(2)What courage it takes tospeak with faith and authority in the face of such adesperate situation! Had the Lord not confirmed the wordElijah had spoken so boldly, this would have been theirfirst and last meal together on earth.Before God performed a miracle of provision, however, Hefirst accomplished a near miracle in humanrelationships. Just as Elijah had obeyed an improbableword in coming to Zarephath, so the Lord now turned theheart of this woman to obey His servant.
Like the widowwho put her all into the Temple Treasury, here was awoman who was willing to share all she had to live onwith a complete stranger. She too would have her reward.Because she did as Elijah had told her, there was foodevery day for Elijah, and for the woman and her familytoo.
‘For the jar of flour was not used up and thejug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word ofthe Lord spoken by Elijah.’(2)The Generosity of GodIn these days, when financial pressures areassailing so many, it is good to ponder the implicationsof this miracle. Though we cannot always see how it ispossible, God will continue to take care of all ourneeds, material as well as spiritual. All the Accuser’s‘prophecies’ of impending doom will be shown to beill-founded as we meet both need and challenge withfaith in the Living God, as Elijah did.How generous the Lord is to those whose hearts aregenerous!(3) When the angel appeared to Cornelius, hisfirst words to him revealed that his almsgiving, as wellas his prayers, had ascended as a memorial beforeGod.(4) Nothing we do passes unseen in the courts ofHeaven. He takes note not only of what we give, but alsoof the spirit in which we give it. The Lord of Hosts provides for His people! A modern day‘jug of oil’ story comes from God’s miraculous provisionduring the horrors of the Second World War.
Imprisonedfor protecting Jews, Corrie Ten Boom relates how abottle of essential vitamins renewed itself for weeks ofend, for the benefit of the inmates of Ravensbruckconcentration camp.Corrie herself was continually amazed at the kindnessand hospitality she received after her miraculousrelease from Ravensbruck. She asked the Lord one day whypeople were always so kind to her. He replied that itwas because her mother had kept an open kitchen duringthe years of the Depression. Corrie ‘inherited’ theblessings her mother had sown.As Matthew Henry so aptly put it, ‘He who ordains thevoyage, victuals the ship accordingly.’ The miracle ofthe flour and the oil that were continually renewed,like the loaves and the fishes, is a reminder that Godtakes the little we offer Him, and gives it power toexpand beyond what is humanly possible. Once we havetaken all the steps we can in a situation, it is ourLord’s joy, as well as His responsibility, to providefor His people.(5)A Heart to GiveThe love of God is nothing if not practical. As wehave been provided for, so we can seek to provide forothers.
Blessing comes ultimately, not to those whohoard, but to those who are willing to give of what theyhave received – their time and talents as well as theirmaterial wealth.(6)As the days get darker, it will be increasinglyimportant for Christians to be on the alert to lookafter one another.(7) Some may be too proud, and sometoo shy, to ask for help, but we must stay alert topeople’s needs and take appropriate action.Given the sheernumber of needs we encounter, we will benefit bytreating the subject of our giving bothprayerfully and imaginatively. I was muchimpressed by the example of David Wilkerson, whoused to pray with his wife at the start of eachmonth as to where the Lord would have them sendmoney from a special ‘burden’ fund they set upin addition to their regular giving.How true Jesus’ wordsare, that where our treasure is, there too our heartwill be. Like the Macedonian churches, we must give tothe point where we are giving of the substance as wellas the overflow of our lives. If our giving is costingus something, we will be far less likely to develop asuperior or a condescending attitude.The Elijah heart stands at complete variance with themodern tendency to want to have it all. Donald Olsensummed up the absurdity of this spirit thus: ‘Mraverage North American is the instalment buyer who isbusy buying things he does not want, with money he doesnot have, to impress people he does not like!’Remembering Jesus’ warning that we cannot serve both Godand Mammon, it is good to remind ourselves that it isbetter to love people and to use things, than to lovethings and to use people. Whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Letus be eager, therefore, to provide for ourselvestreasure in heaven.
Raven Lord Hots
This does not mean that we are neverto indulge ourselves in the occasional treat; it issimply an invitation to godly and responsiblestewardship in our whole approach to handling worldlywealth.For myself, I would rather support causes whichnon-Christians would not readily subscribe to: labourersin the vineyard, rather than the fabric of oldbuildings. To do this effectively, we should strive tolive somewhat below the level of our income, so that theLord can use the surplus to support others. Life beingwhat it is, this may well prove impossible, but it is,at least, a worthy aim. After all, is it fair to prayfor Christian work to be supported, if we ourselves arenot prepared to do much about it?ReflectionsThe God of Elijah is still at work to this dayto provide for the needs of His people. Look back andrecall some of the ways in which God has provided foryou over the years. Record occasions when you have beenas fearfully unbelieving as the Israelites, only to besurprised by joy as the Lord has opened up some new (andusually unexpected) means of provision at just the righttime. Dare to thank and praise the Lord that He will continueto supply your daily bread, along with everything elsethat you truly need.
Then ask Him to show you if thereis anything you are spending money on that is not inline with His wishes. Ask Him, too, whether there is anyperson, cause or organisation that He would have yougive to, or contribute more to.Over and aboveall this that I have provided, I have givensilver and gold from my personal propertybecause of my love for God’s Temple. Now whoelse is willing to give a generous offering tothe Lord?(8)SelahThank You, Lord,for the way You draw people to share in Yourwork of provision.
You saw the spirit in whichthe widow shared her livelihood with Elijah,just as You watched another widow put her allinto the Temple Treasury. Thank You that thegifts and resources of Your people can help YourKingdom to spread. I ask that I may play my partin this holy work. May the motivation of myheart, and the gift of my hand alike be pleasingin Your sight.