1 Kings 17:4

The Lord would take care of His dear servant while he was hidden from public view. He would meet his needs, even if it was through ravens. What a strange provision! What a constant exercise of faith! He was called to watch each day for the visits of birds that would naturally want to devour the prophet's meal. But was it on the ravens that Elijah lived? Surely not. His soul rested in the precious words, "I have commanded." It was God, and not the ravens, for him.

The law of Israel called "every raven of any kind" unclean (Lev. 11:15; Deut. 14:14). Ravens are meat eaters. That they brought Elijah flesh as well as bread shows God's miraculous power. He caused them to feed His servant. 1 Kings 17:4, 6. They are greedy eaters, and have no storehouse or barn, yet God feeds them, and will surely feed those who trust in Him. Job 38:41; Ps. 147:9; Prov. 30:17; Song 5:11; Isa. 34:11; Luke 12:24.

Israel was in no condition to care for a prophet of God, and God used the unclean birds for this. Ravens, as their name suggests, are ravenous. So it was a miracle of God that they brought food to the prophet, both in the morning and the evening. So Elijah learned literally not to worry about his life as to what he would eat and drink (Matt. 6:25).

The path of obedience is the path of sufficiency. The disciples were without food in John 21:5 because they were acting in self-will. They should have waited in Galilee until the Lord came to them, as He had appointed (Matt. 26:32). Instead Peter said, "I am going fishing," and his companions answered, "We will go with you." A whole night of work yielded nothing but disappointment. The Lord's word to Elijah about Cherith was, "I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." Elijah did not choose his own hiding place. The Lord chose for him, and there his need was met.

There was probably a twofold purpose in sending Elijah to hide himself by the brook Cherith. The first was that he might grasp that all strength for service comes from being alone with God… Second, he was to learn his complete dependence on his Master. By the brook Cherith he was cut off from all visible sources of natural support. By feeding him through the ravens, the Lord God of Israel would teach him that He Himself was enough for him in all circumstances. But, as always, the Lord taught His servant step by step, as he was able to bear it. At the beginning there was water in the brook. Then "the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land." Now the Lord would test Elijah harder still.

He is not to be outside the afflictions and judgments God brings on His people. But through dependence on God he is to be above them. So it is with every true servant; so it was with Elijah. For the wilful, this period is nothing but affliction. For the man of faith, it becomes an especially profitable season. Has God answered his prayer in a striking way? Then for that very reason he must learn to live in dependence more than ever.