Our text this week is 1 Kings 17: 2 - 24. We were introduced to our protagonist, Elijah, without any indication of background or training in verse 1 of chapter 17. Our lesson this week will allow us to see some of the training that God uses in his life to prepare him for the task of "being light in a dark world".
Today, read 1 Kings 17: 2 - 6
God pulled Elijah out of the palace, out of the capital and into a place of solitude. It is an interesting beginning place. Remember Moses? Before God used him as a powerful liberator and leader, He had him in a wilderness place for 40 years. Remember Jesus? Before He began His ministry on this earth, God had Him in a wilderness place for 40 days. God told Elijah to go to the Wadi Cherith (or Kerith) and hide himself there. All we know is that the place was east of the Jordan River. Other than that, we do not know its exact location. It was a private place - a solitary place. No houses or markets ... no synagogues or meeting places. Only Elijah - alone with his God - the God of Israel, the LORD, before Whom Elijah stood! The wadi (which is a ravine where water runs when it rains, but is dry when there is no rain) provided water for Elijah and God directed ravens to bring him bread and meat. God provided ...
You and I are so tied to day-timers and watches, to calendars and schedules - do you wonder what in the world he did all day! It's hard to imagine a day in the life of Elijah at Cherith. We struggle to have places of stillness and quiet in our fast paced world. But it seemed to matter. It seemed to be a necessary piece for the shaping of this prophet to the work of God.
Two things stand out in my mind as we consider these verses ...
1. Elijah's quick obedience. We have no record of any discussion about it. If he questioned it all, he went anyway. If he didn't understand, he went anyway. If he was concerned about what he was going to do, he went anyway. Verse 5 simply says, "So he went ...". Obedience matters. When you know what the Lord is asking of you ... what do you do? I marvel at Elijah's quick obedience. I tend to over-analyze EVERYTHING! And sometimes fall into the trap of rationalization when I don't really want to do the thing. May we be more like Elijah ... "So he went."
2. Secondly, I am impressed again with the importance of solitude. It is no accident that early church fathers listed "solitude" as one of the spiritual disciplines. It is more than just being alone. The spiritual discipline of solitude means: "the creation of an open, empty space in our lives by purposefully abstaining from interaction with other human beings, so that, freed from competing loyalties, we can be found by God." (from The Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible) Elijah needed time away from the noise of everyday living, away from the busy-ness of serving, so that he could learn to better "rest" in the presence of God. Even Jesus needed that.
Mark 1:35 "In the morning, while it was still very dark, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed."
Luke 5:16 "He would withdraw to deserted places and pray."
Why do we think we do not need this discipline? Is it our fear of alone-ness? Is it because we don't want to hear the things our spirits are trying to communicate to us? Do we feel more important if we are constantly "busy"? The fact that in the spiritual world solitude is described as a discipline speaks volumes! Discipline requires determination and work. I commend that work to you! I challenge myself with the necessity of that work. This week ... when will you "create an open, empty space" in your week to listen to the quiet? To be found by God?
Close your study today with these precious verses ...
Psalm 46:10a Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 62:5 For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him.
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