We are looking at the help that comes from the Lord. The Psalmist said his help came from the Lord.
Psalm 121:1-2 ESV I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I am sure that you have needed help from time to time. The Psalmist was facing one of those moments when he was looking up for some help. He asked the question: “From where does my help come?” You have asked that question.
In 1 Kings, we find the story of Elijah the prophet of God.
I am sure you remember Elijah’s story. There was a severe drought in the land. It was a result of God’s people turning away from Him. Many times in the Bible, famine and drought came as a result of God’s people turning away from Him. One of the beautiful stories of God’s favor and provision is found in the midst of the famine and drought.
1 Kings 17 gives us some amazing background into God’s provision.
The drought had lasted so long that the land had been emptied of its resources. God told Elijah that he would take care of him down by the Brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan River. It is hard to imagine the whole land being without the necessary provisions for life and sustenance.
In the midst of the drought, God had a plan to take care of Elijah. God’s provision and favor was Elijah’s portion. Down by the brook, God provided for the man of God. The way God did this is unusual and amazing.
Have you ever noticed that God provides for your need in ways that are unusual and amazing?
What did God do?
1 Kings 17:4 NIV “You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”
The Lord told Elijah, “I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” Before you enter your next drought, you need to know that God is watching over you.
- Elijah knew Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides.
- He is Elohim – the One True God.
- He is El Shaddai – the Almighty God.
- He is Jehovah Rapha – the Lord our Healer.
God said, “I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
Elijah went down and stayed by the Brook Cherith according to the word of the Lord.
Think about this…
Can you understand the human situation that is in this story? This man Elijah was to go down to an isolated place by a brook and set up camp. God told him to get up and go to an isolated place and hide. He had no food or water. He got up and left the city to go hide. When he went he was totally dependent on this word from the Lord.
If you are going to do something like this, you need to know the God Who cannot fail.
You need to know that “with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37).
God said, “I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”
Elijah was totally dependent on the Lord for his survival. He had nothing there to sustain himself. He totally depended on the Lord and the ravens. You may not know how and you may not know where, but the Lord God omnipotent has all power and all knowledge.
God knows how to supply for you.
God is not limited by man’s supply.
1 Kings 17:7 NLT But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
Has God ever supplied answers for you from unexpected resources? Have you lived in that favor for a while and then the brook dried up?
God knows how to take care of you when the brook dries up.
1 Kings 17:8-9 NKJV Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
Zarephath means refinery. Zarephath was in Jezebel’s homeland. God provided continued provision in a land that was dedicated to the worship of Baal.
1 Kings 17:10 NKJV So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”
I notice two things immediately.
First, the widow was where God said she would be.
Second, she was suffering in the drought.
When he saw her, Elijah asked for a cup of water and a morsel of bread.
The widow told him, “I don’t have any bread…”
You need to know that when you walk in obedience to the Lord God Almighty, He is able to supply all your need.
Elijah is going to be sustained with nothing but the word of God.
Have you found that God is able to supply all your need?
Throughout the remainder of the drought, God miraculously supplied for the man of God and this widow.
When God speaks, we do not have to be afraid. Do not consider the barrel of meal or the pot that is empty. God has spoken. The drought is nothing when God provides.
You can trust God when there is nothing but God.
1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The next major event happens in 1 Kings 18.
1 Kings 18:1–2 NKJV And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria.
Elijah was walking by faith in the word of God.
God said, “I will send rain on the earth.” Don’t miss this, when God told Elijah this, the ground was dry.
Has God ever asked you to trust Him and obey when you could not see how things would work?
It would be easier to take action if there were rain clouds in the sky. Elijah had nothing to go on but the word of God.
You need to know that God does not lie.
The Lord your God is a faithful God. What He has said, He will also do.
You need to be reminded of what was happening while Elijah was at the Brook Cherith and at the widow of Zarephath’s house. The famine had devastated the land. Jezebel was so mad and evil that she was killing off the Lord’s prophets. The prophets of God who remained were hiding in dens and caves.
It was at that moment that God told Elijah to go show himself to Ahab, and I will send rain.
God had a plan and program that was going to bring Him all of the glory. When God told Elijah to go to Ahab, his only source of answer or protection was the word of God. God said, “Go show yourself to Ahab and I will send rain on the earth.” This is a test for the man of God.
Remember, there was no sign of rain.
There is no radar or weather forecaster. All Elijah had was the word of God. God said: “I will send rain.” Have you found out that when God speaks, you can expect answers? It is important to watch what happens.
He arrived and told Ahab what God said, “I will send rain.”
If God is going to send rain, people are going to know that there is a God in heaven.
Elijah, the man of God challenged the 450 prophets of Baal, and fire fell from heaven.
There was still no rain.
Elijah executed all of the prophets of Baal, and there was still no rain.
What are you going to do when you obey God and it still does not rain?
What are you going to do when you know that you have heard from heaven and it still does not rain?
Elijah did not change the word that he heard from God.
1 Kings 18:41–42 NKJV Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,
This is praying in the word and will of God.
God already told him what He was going to do. God said: “It is going to rain.” Now, Elijah is praying: “Let it rain.” What is Elijah expecting to happen? He believes it is going to rain, so he is praying. He is not praying in doubt, but in faith in God.
1 Kings 18:43 NKJVElijah said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”
Have you ever prayed and “There is nothing?” You took a stand for God in faith, and “There is nothing!” Don’t give up when you don’t see what you expect.
Do you remember when the king of Aram was at war with Israel?
Elisha was the man of God and the Aramean army, horses, and chariots had completely surrounded the city.
When Elisha’s servant got up the next morning, he didn’t know what they could do.
He was looking for something that would help them and he saw nothing.
You need to know that God is working even if you see nothing.
2 Kings 6:16-17 NLT “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
God is still working even when you see nothing.
Go back to 1 Kings 18:43–44
Elijah was praying and his servant was seeing nothing.
Elijah had a word from the Lord, so, he kept on praying. He knew that rain was coming even though they saw nothing. He is not praying through fear and doubt. He is praying with faith and trust in God.
1 Kings 18:44 NKJV Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
Elijah was looking to the Author and Finisher of his faith. He knew what the Lord had done. You need to remember that God answers prayer. You need to remember all of His mighty works.
Joshua 21:45 NIV Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
Joshua 21:45 NKJV Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
When God says it, you know that He will do it.
If you are looking out of your prayer room and you see nothing, keep your faith in God. You need to know that God is not far off.
Psalm 34:7 NKJVThe angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
I hear that, but I see nothing.
If God said it, you can believe it.
If He said it is going to rain, it will rain. If He said He would encamp all around those who fear Him, and deliver them: He is here. If He said He would hasten His word to perform it, His word will not return to Him without accomplishing what He said.
Elijah knew it was going to rain!
He knew it was going to rain before he went to meet Ahab. He knew it was going to rain before he challenged the prophets of Baal. He knew it was going to rain before he prayed. When his servant saw nothing, he knew it was going to rain.
You may be seeing nothing right now.
You may be looking for some visible sign that God is working.
God is working.
The answer is on the way. Get ready for a miracle. God said He would turn it around.
