“Then Elijah, the prophet
from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, ‘As surely as the Lord God of Israel
lives—the God whom I worship and serve—there won’t be any dew or rain for
several years until I say the word!” Then
the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Cherith Brook at a place
east of where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the
ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to feed you.’” -1 Kings 17:1-4 TLB
Elijah was one of
the first persons to “shelter in place” away from all direct contact with other
people. He did not go stay with family
or friends; he went to a lonely quiet place where he was given food and water
by God’s direction until it was time for him to come back out. He was there in his hiding place for quite
some time, months, or more, without such things as the internet or cell phones
to entertain him. Have you ever wondered
what he spent his time doing while he was there?
“So he did as the Lord had
told him to and camped beside the brook. The ravens brought him bread and meat
each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the
brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go and live in the village of Zarephath,
near the city of Sidon. There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given
her my instructions.’” -1 Kings 17:5-9 TLB
Elijah did as God
said. He came from a place of seclusion
to a stronger ministry than before he hid; through him, God made an unending
food supply, raised someone from the dead, broke the drought and brought rain,
etc..
This makes me wonder
again about just what Elijah did while hidden away. We do not know except that he obeyed God in
going into seclusion and he obeyed God in coming out. Maybe it is time we find out just what God
wants us to do while we are secluded away…and what we should do when we come
out? I’m going to ask Him. How about you?
