When The Brook Dries Up (Part 1)

I am always amazed when I learn that todays Christians hardly ever read from the Old Testament, other than the books of Psalms or Proverbs. There is such a wealth of information about how and why God moved in individuals and groups of people, not to mention the nation of Israel. There is a reason why the Old Testament is so much larger than the New Testament. One reason is that it can guide us in our own personal walk because it gives us a detailed history of people’s lives.

The book of 1 Kings is one of those books that unfolds like a big motion picture story with all kinds of action, drama, intrigue, betrayal. Especially the story of the prophet Elijah when he prayed for the rain to stop for three years. If I could picture what this man looked like he probably would look like the actor John Wayne. John Wayne was bigger than life to me as a kid, and no battle or fight was too big for him. Maybe you can picture someone else from your childhood? Either way, Elijah was and is a real hero of faith to any who will take the time to read about him.

Now to be fair about this story and how I happened to be writing about Elijah, I was talking to a good friend the other day and in the midst of our conversation about the condition of America with this corona virus that is affecting the whole world, he said this one phrase, “When the Brook Dried Up”. We discussed the meaning of this scripture for our time. I told my friend he should write a book about it and it would be powerful. You see, there is so much we can and should learn in this short story; some valuable truths about what and how one should walk by faith. The ramifications of a walk like Elijah’s are enormous. From my perspective, so many in the church today have an unrealistic view of what a real honest “Faith Walk” looks like, let alone the potential of messing up big time while following the direction and will of God. Walking by faith is not easy but it is rewarding.

Let me give an overview of this famous prophet and his amazing walk of faith in the book of 1 Kings. It seems Elijah shows up out of nowhere and challenges Ahab, Israel’s most wicked king. In fact, scripture defines this king as the worst ever. He didn’t just behave badly, but he led the nation of Israel into all kinds of wicked practices, in part because of his wife, who truly ran the government more than Ahab did. Her name was Jezebel, a name that even in secular circles is synonymous with evil and treachery.

1 Kings 16:30-31

Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him. It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshipped him. 

So because of Ahab, God intervenes with a terrible drought that lasted three years to bring this king and the nation to its knees. The hope was the king and the nation would acknowledge their sin and repent. It would be easy to think that all natural disasters in life are caused by God, but that is not the case. Everything in life is not the will of God any more than Ahab’s life of sin was God’s will. This drought, however, was brought on by the prayer of Elijah, a mighty man of God who was willing to be obedient to God even if it meant his own life was put in jeopardy.

1 Kings 17:1

Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 

Isn’t it funny, or should I say pathetic, that many of us are unwilling to obey the voice of God unless it makes us look intelligent, wise and godly?  This man was risking his own life to tell this king such a prophetic word and he knew it. Nothing is known about Elijah before this event, but surely he had learned to walk with God in such a way that he trusted God with his life and his reputation. He must have learned to listen to God’s voice many times before hearing this clear word, and he must have learned to be obedient in the small things before he was given this huge prophetic word. Great people are made over time with many tests in-between.

Many believers want the big, earth-shattering gifting without realizing that you don’t get instantaneous faith over night, but rather by taking baby steps of obedience. Even if we are gifted by the Holy Spirit in some area we still need training, and must learn to understand that gift through practice. Practice makes perfect, remember?

So Elijah delivers this prophetic word to the king, and I’m sure he knew, short of a miracle of God, he better get out of town . . . and fast. The problem was which way and how far should he go to be safe? Wouldn’t the king and his army chase him, no matter which way he takes off in?  Then, and only then, Elijah gets another word from God. Often we want “Advance” guidance, but God waits for us to obey first. If this was me I would be expecting God to provide a ship, a chariot or some hot air balloon. But Elijah is told to walk, or better run, to a place called “Wadi Keith,” which was about 30 miles from Samaria. In my mind this isn’t nearly far enough to get out of the reach of the king. Often the will and direction of God doesn’t look logical at the time we get it.

1 Kings 17:2-5

The word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 

To give some context here, it would appear that God is leading Elijah into some mountain region where the rain water flows down toward the flat lands. Seems like the king would send his army to search for this rebellious prophet in just such a place.

Secondly, it appears that the word of God that Elijah spoke to Ahab is bringing suffering and hardship, rather than honor and notoriety. How many of us assume we will be honored when serving the Lord in some capacity? This prophet of God is now an “Outlaw” of Israel and hunted like a common criminal. Seems unfair doesn’t it? Obeying God should come with rewards, right?

Thirdly, Elijah is told he will be fed by ravens! Are you kidding me? Ravens were considered “unclean” birds and never to be eaten by Jews let alone fed but them. How many ravens does it take to feed a man two meals a day? Elijah had to be questioning this guidance and wondering if he really blew this prophetic word. Maybe he wasn’t really called to this ministry. Maybe he got the time of three years wrong. Maybe he was meant to give an “Encouraging Word” to the king after all. But, according to verse 5, Elijah “DID” according to the word of God and walked over thirty miles up a mountain.

In future weeks we will continue to explore this fascinating story about a man of God who was obedient, even when that obedience meant he might suffer for it. Walking with God and being obedient isn’t always easy but it is rewarding if we don’t give up when the going gets tough.

Questions:

1) Have you learned to be obedient in the small things? If not the big challenges will overwhelm you.

2) Have you bought into the lie that serving God means honor and success? Maybe or maybe not.

Desiring to walk in a way I can hear and obey.

Pastor Dale