The Brook Dried Up

Five verses . . . only five short verses in 1 Kings between two bookends stating, "The word of the LORD came to him". First Elijah is instructed to go hide by the brook Cherith where ravens would provide for him. The brook dried up; then God told him to move on from there to Zarephath where a widow would have provisions. What a simple series of events when written in so few words, why wouldn't Elijah be faithful. But let's be careful to remember that Elijah was a real man living in real time with a real body and hunger and fear. Imagine with me what our prayer might have been in Elijah's shoes:

Elijah: "Good morning LORD, thank you for the raven breakfast this morning, these guys are getting good at not getting beak marks in my eggs (ok, I know it probably wasn't eggs). Thank you for guiding me to this place and for your wonderful care. However, I couldn't help but notice this morning that I'm seeing a few more rocks and a little less babble out of this brook. Just thought I'd mention it."

Surely, Elijah noticed as each day the bank got a little taller and the water got a little quieter between where we read "The word of the LORD came to him" and "the brook dried up". However, he stayed the ground the Lord had given him. God had told him to go to the brook Cherith and water or no water there was no better place to be than in the path of the Sovereign God. Elijah trusted God's guidance and certainly was rewarded with His provision and presence. Perhaps you are on fresh soil of new ground with trembling feet, perhaps you're dusting the dirt of a dry brook off your shoes, or maybe you are where we spend the majority of our lives, somewhere in between, down on your knees measuring the water to see if God will be faithful. Get up. He is.

The brook dried up, but in the midst of famine and scorching sun the faithfulness of God is a downpour.

Filing Chapter 11

Lately I have been reading in 1 Kings. Just recently the Queen of Sheba has come for a visit with King Solomon. In chapter 10 we read that word had gotten around about Solomon's wealth and wisdom and like most of us women the Queen of Sheba needed to see it for herself. She was overwhelmed. Not only was everything she heard about Solomon true but the tales had been understated. She was so impressed that she gave generously an abundance of gifts to the king and his kingdom.

Solomon had everything. God had given him wisdom greater than any man and more wealth that we can properly understand. He had power and prestige and favor among men of every status. More than that He had fellowship and favor with God and no good gift was withheld from him. Solomon had everything. . . but then comes chapter 11 and Solomon's spiritual bankruptcy. Every good and perfect gift wasn't enough. Solomon accumulated hundreds of wives from varying religions and divided his heart and loyalties, reminding us that wisdom not applied is still foolishness. More was not better.

I picture the scene somewhat like Let's Make a Deal. Behind door number one - everything God has according to His wisdom, love, and glory. Behind door number two - getting to choose for myself and have what I want in the moment. The difference is the closed doors are made glass by the revelation of God's word and we do not choose blindly. We know the riches of obedience and faith and yet we choose ignorant independence.

Keep it up and Chapter 11 is coming.