What does Elijah's obedience in 1 Kings 17:6 teach about faithfulness to God? Setting the Scene • Just after declaring a God-sent drought (1 Kings 17:1), Elijah “went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the Brook Kerith” (1 Kings 17:5). • Verse 6 records the daily result of that obedience: “And the ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook” (1 Kings 17:6). What Elijah Actually Did • He accepted an unlikely command—hide in a ravine and rely on birds for food. • He stayed put until God spoke again (1 Kings 17:7-9). • He trusted God to keep providing even though famine gripped the land. Key Truths About Faithfulness to God 1. Faithfulness begins with immediate obedience – Elijah “went and did” (v. 5). Faithfulness is not just agreement with God’s word; it is action (James 2:17). 2. God often tests faithfulness through unconventional means – Ravens were ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:15). Depending on them highlighted that God, not circumstances, sustains His servants. 3. God’s provision follows obedience, not the other way around – The bread and meat came after Elijah reached the brook (Matthew 6:33). 4. Daily reliance deepens trust – Morning and evening deliveries echo Israel’s daily manna (Exodus 16:4). Faithfulness grows as we return to God for each day’s needs (Lamentations 3:22-23). 5. Faithfulness positions us for future assignments – After learning trust at Kerith, Elijah was ready for God’s next command at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-9). Luke 16:10 reminds that being “faithful in very little” leads to greater responsibility. Practical Takeaways for Today • Act promptly on God’s clear word—delayed obedience is disobedience. • Don’t measure God’s care by normal channels; He can use “ravens.” • Expect provision to meet today’s need; tomorrow’s supply comes tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). • See small, hidden seasons as training grounds for larger Kingdom tasks. • Remember: the same God who fed Elijah by a brook still “supplies all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). |
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