Some of the best hiding places are right under the noses of those seeking to find us. My daughter, Mary, was a master at hide ’n seek. She didn’t hide in out-of-the-way places. She hid in the last place we ever thought to look, often right under our noses.
On one occasion, as we began the countdown for the kids to hide, Mary concealed herself around the corner of the room in which we were counting. Immediately after we began our search, she slipped back into that room and hid in a small storage cabinet. We never found her!
That daughter of mine! She’s a sly one!
After pronouncing God’s judgment of drought on Israel, Elijah was forced into hiding. Wicked King Ahab was scouring the land, searching every crag and crevice for the man at the top of Israel’s most wanted list. When the stream dried up in Elijah’s desert hideout at the Cherith Canyon, God led his prophet to a place that neither Ahab nor his wicked queen, Jezebel, would think to look.
Zarephath, located in Sidon, was in the very heart of Canaanite territory. It was where Jezebel grew up, and it was the center of Baal worship. Talk about hiding in plain sight!
“Go there at once,” God said to Elijah.
“Excuse me,” Lord, “Are you aware of the geographical location of Zarephath? I might as well just walk right into Ahab’s palace.” I don’t know if Elijah thought that, but I certainly would have.
“Oh, and by the way, I’ve made accommodations for you during your stay in Zarephath, Elijah.”
“Well, that’s certainly a relief, Lord. Thank you. Anywhere is better than this desert canyon.”
“I’ve commanded a Gentile widow to care and provide for you, Elijah.”
Let’s pause for a moment. Let me ask you a question. Do you believe God spoke to and prepared this Gentile widow for Elijah’s arrival and stay at her home? If we read the words literally, then yes. But there is another way of looking at it. A better way, I think.
God is sovereign. He directs our world and those in it according to his will. Proverbs reminds us that God holds the heart of the king in his hand and that people may make their plans, but God directs their steps.
As we watch this scene unfold in I Kings, chapter seventeen, it doesn’t appear that God has literally spoken or commanded this widow to take care of his prophet. In fact, she is really put out by the prophet’s request, really put to the test! Take time to read the story for yourself, and you’ll see what I mean.
What I want to focus on is the unsettling way in which God provides for one of his choice servants. This strong, able-bodied Jewish man from the wilderness is provided for by a Gentile widow. With an orphan boy to boot!
It is hard for us today to imagine how outrageous this was. And how humbling it must have been for Elijah.
But by the time his three-year stay is over, Elijah emerges from this stronghold of Baal with the grace, faith, and humility needed for someone about to call fire down from a cloudless sky and point God’s people back to their Lord.
You can read the complete story in my book, but for now, I want to ask you a few questions.
First question: How open are you to hearing God direct you to places, people, and circumstances that, frankly, seem outrageous? Maybe even distasteful. Humbling.
Second question: Maybe, like the widow, you haven’t actually heard God command you to do anything, but you find yourself in circumstances that, to say the least, are testing your faith. Are you willing to consider the very real possibility that God has orchestrated these circumstances?
The answer to both these questions will help you recognize how well you are able to hear the voice of God (The Living Word) in your life.
And that’s what overcoming spiritual drought is all about. Moving beyond the Written Word with its precepts, principles, and doctrines, and developing spiritual ears quick to hear and respond to the voice of God in our lives.
In Christ,
Dan
Where is the God of Elijah? Overcoming Spiritual Drought is available on Kindle, through Amazon here.
Thanks, Brittany. I’m loving your songs.
Love the historical detail in this. Very helpful. God bless! This is really in line with every poem the Lord had me working on on a family getaway. I wrote five poems on the beach yesterday. The sovreignty and motherly attentiveness of God was a common theme throughout. God is working everything out for our good.