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Ahab was king after Omri's
death. He was more wicked than any of the kings who reigned before
him in Israel. His wife's name was Jezebel, and she encouraged her
husband in his sins and idolatries. They both worshiped Baal, and
taught their people to worship him too. Were
all the Israelites isolators now? Was there none to teach them about
God? Were there no holy prophets in Israel still? There were
yet a few faithful servants of God; and a holy prophet was living in the
country, who boldly preached the truth to the people of Israel. This
prophet was Elijah. The Bible tells us many wonderful and beautiful
stories about him. God told
Elijah to go to king Ahab, and say, that He would send no rain, and no
dew, upon the land of Israel for a long time. Israel had forgotten
their kind and merciful God who gave them all their good things.
They did not thank Him for His blessings; they did not ask Him for the
food they needed: they were worshiping Baal, not God; and,
therefore, God punished His ungrateful people by taking away their
blessings. He taught them, in this way, that He alone could give
them their good things, and that he could take all away too, if He
pleased. This was a sad
time for Israel. No rain fell to water the ground; so the grass
dried up, and then there was no food for the poor animals; and no corn,
nor fruits, for the people to eat. A famine is a dreadful thing. But
where was Elijah now? God took care of him; He told him where to go,
and how he should be fed. There was a little brook of water near
Jordan, named Cherith, and God told Elijah to go and hide himself
there. Why must he hide himself? Because Elijah had enemies
who were seeking to kill him. Ahab and Jezebel hated him, because he
told them the truth, and spoke to them about their sins, and warned them
of God's anger. It was right of Elijah to tell them all this; but
wicked people love their sins, and do not like to be reproved for
them. Ahab and Jezebel hated all God's holy prophets, and sought for
them to put them to death: but Elijah was safely kept by God at the
brook Cherith. What did he
eat there? There was no corn, nor fruit; yet he had plenty every
day. Who gave him his daily food? God sent it to him in a very
wonderful way. Not by a friend, nor a prophet, nor a servant, nor an
angel. God sent it to him every day by ravens. Every morning
the ravens came to Elijah. One carried flesh in its beak; another
carried bread. The ravens did not eat the food themselves.
They brought it to Elijah; and he took it from them, and then they flew
away; and every evening the ravens came again, and brought more bread and
flesh to Elijah; and when he was thirsty, he drank the water of the
brook. He was alone; only God was with him; but Elijah was
happy. He never felt afraid; for he knew God was his friend, and he
could trust Him for all things. There he sat, thinking about holy
things; about God, and Christ, and Heaven, and praying and singing praises
alone in the wilderness. When the birds brought his daily food, he
ate it, and was thankful; and he knew that God would send him more on the
morrow, if it pleased Him. And then Elijah could lie down in peace
and comfort, and none made him afraid. How pleasant it is to be
contented like Elijah, and to trust God for all things as he did! If
Elijah's God is our God, we need never feel sorrowful, nor discontented,
nor lonely, nor afraid. But
what made the ravens so kind to Elijah? God made them so. He
has power over the instincts of animals; He can make all things do as He
pleases. He could make Balaam's ass speak; He could make the lion,
which killed the disobedient prophet, stand quietly without touching the
dead body; and now He could make the wild ravens kind and friendly to
Elijah. How powerful God is, and how kind He is to His own
servants? Let us trust this good and wonderful God at all times; for
He will give us every thing we really need, if we trust in Him.
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