By: Pastor Jarren Rogers

“Where God guides, God provides” – Chuck Smith

God used Elijah to do a lot of really crazy things. We’ve all probably remember his showdown with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. There’s also 2 Kings 2 where Elijah is taken up to heaven by a blazing chariot pulled by flaming horses.

In the midst of all these sensational stories about Elijah, it can be easy to overlook the smaller ways in which God worked in his life.

In 1 Kings 17, Elijah tells the evil King Ahab that there will be a drought over his land as punishment for the wrong he has done. After the delivering the news, Elijah is directed by God to hide in a ravine.

This might not have been the most comfortable place for Elijah to be called to. I wouldn’t be surprised if when he arrived Elijah sighed and muttered under his breath, “Really, God? You couldn’t have guided me to a comfy Airbnb or maybe put me up in the Four Seasons in west Judah?”

To make matters worse, there was still a drought. Elijah was just like everyone else in the kingdom, without access to water.

But God didn’t lead Elijah to the ravine and then leave him on his own.

“So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook,” (1 Kings 17:5-6).

God provided for Elijah by using ravens to bring him food and a small brook to give him water.

I think that there is something important to take away from this story:

Wherever God guides us, he will also provide for us.

Where God guides us may not be where we want to be. It may not be comfortable and it may not make sense. But God will provide for us.

His provision may be extravagant and he may bless us in more ways than we can possibly imagine.

Or maybe, like in the case of Elijah, God chooses to provide us with just enough to get by.

The bottom line is this:

God always provides.

Parents: Share with your kids all of the ways that God has provided for you and your family. Tell them that if they are ever in need, God will offer provision.