Our God works in ways that we cannot fully comprehend. We see this in His dealings with Elijah when drought and famine ravaged the world of his day.

We see Elijah introduced to us in 1 Kings 17:1 pronouncing a judgment of drought upon the land because the government of Israel officially sought to replace the worship of God with the worship of Baal (1 Kings 18:4, 13, 18). Many thanks to King Ahab and his foreign wife, Jezebel. The drought was also a judgment on Baal because Baal was supposed to be the “god of storms” and “god of fertility” who bought rain upon the agrarian economy and fruitfulness upon the people.

Elijah showed up in the midst of this wickedness and ungodliness and stood for God. God always has a remnant that will stand for Him in evil times. May you be one of them.

Of course every judgment of God has its casualties – the believer and unbeliever alike. Even though Elijah prayed down the judgment of God, he was still subject to its pains and discomfort. This punctures a hole in the traditional belief that believers are immune to difficulties and hardship because they are born of God. In the midst of this, however, God made a way for Elijah to survive the famine. When a season of drought and famine occurs in your life, hide under the covering of God like Elijah did. The beautiful and marvelous nature of God is that He can choose to preserve you in ways that man cannot comprehend! No wonder the Bible reminds us that His ways and thoughts are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

How did God rescue and preserve Elijah?

1) God found a means of escape and led him to a place of shelter at Kerith Ravine (1 Kings 17: 3).

2) Second, God provided him with water and sent him food through an unlikely source, a raven (1 Kings 17:4). This was an unclean animal, a bird of prey, which ought even to eat the meat that it was bringing to Elijah. Now I am sure Elijah did not dine on prime steak and exquisite bread during this period, but God always makes sure you have what you need (not necessarily what you want) to weather the storm.

3) When the water from the brook at Kerith Ravine dried up due to no rain, God had to provide another source of sustenance for Him. When any door closes for you, do not despair. God may be lining up something bigger and better for you.

In summary, seek God for refuge and direction in stormy times. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. He will provide all you need in the storm. Father Lord, make ways for your people. Open doors no man can shut. Cause us to be obedient to Your word, in Jesus’ name!