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Message Notes
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.’” —I Kings 17:1
“And the word of the Lordcame to him: ‘Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.’ So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” —I Kings 17:2-6
Cherith – to cut off, to cut down
What was God doing in Elijah’s life?
- He was placing him in total obscurity
“Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” —1 Kings 17:3
- He was taking care of Elijah’s essential needs
“You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” —I Kings 17:4
“And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. He was causing Elijah to be totally dependent on Him.” —I Kings 17: 6
“And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.” —I Kings 17:7
How Did Elijah Respond to God’s Request?
“So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan.” —I Kings 17:5
- HE STAYED IN THE DRY BROOK
What do we need to remember when were in dry brook season of life?
- Sometimes God sets us aside (or let’s us experience a dry brook) to strengthen us and refine us for the next stage of our journey.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” —Jeremiah 29:11
- God is more concerned about developing our character and maturing us then He is in providing our comfort.
“Yet Jerusalem says, ‘The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us. ‘Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.’” —Isaiah 49:14-16
“Behold, I have imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of my hands;” —Isaiah 49:16 (AMP)
- A dried-up brook is often a sign of God’s pleasure, not His disappointment, in your life.
God’s dried up brook is not usually a sign of God’s judgment on us, but instead a sign of God’s love and acceptance of us.
Remember this:
- He loves you unconditionally
- You can trust him completely
- He’s never going to leave you
- Everything you need for life you can find in your relationship with Jesus Christ.