Years ago, while visiting my uncle in another state with my family, we were at a water-themed amusement park. I remember going to see a show performed by sea-faring animals (like dolphins or seals), and the announcer warned the audience that the first few rows next to the water were considered to be the “splash zone”. Even if you weren’t in the water itself, there was a good chance that you were going to get wet!
Now, the thing about God’s punishment on wickedness is that sometimes it spills over to those who are still following Him. We might remember, for instance, that some of the plagues on Egypt before the Exodus also affected the Israelites (see Exodus 8-12), even though these plagues led to the Israelites being freed from slavery.
Let’s continue reading from 1 Kings 17, building upon what we learned about the prophet Elijah from 1 Kings 17:1 in the previous article.
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
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 17:2-6 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1ki.17.2-6.NIV
Even while still following God, Elijah had to deal with the effects of a drought pronounced upon a country that was going the wrong direction. However, God provides for His people in various ways. In this case, He directed Elijah to go (probably from Samaria, since that’s where Ahab the king ruled) across the Jordan River, to a brook.
Furthermore, if we peek ahead to the next chapter, we find that Ahab was understandably angry with Elijah, blaming him for the drought. So, as suggested by Long [p.205], God was also shielding Elijah from Ahab – and probably Jezebel – by “getting him out of town”.
God didn’t just expect Elijah to live off water from the brook, though. God had ravens bring bread and meat to Elijah. Now, I’m not sure where the bread and meat came from, but I imagine it coming from the king’s table, with birds picking up what the king was able to scrape together, and then bringing that to Elijah. I don’t know if that was the case, but we do know that God was cursing the land that was ruled by a pagan king, even as God was providing for His prophet.
(And, for what it’s worth, some have pointed out that ravens are considered ceremonially unclean, so Elijah may be representing how the people of Israel have been cut off from God, both in Elijah’s being sent out of the nation of Israel and in his eating of unclean food. The Israelites were being presented with unclean altars to false gods, and God sometimes illustrates His people’s behavior or destiny through His prophets’ actions.)
This unusual arrangement, where God is providing for His prophet, might be the only case of this specific miracle happening throughout history. Elijah was in the “splash zone” of the drought upon Israel, but he didn’t have to take the brunt of it.
However, God’s creativity in how He provided for one of His prophets didn’t stop with this example. There are more ways that God can provide for us than we can imagine (see Ephesians 3:20-21). So, what does that mean for those who follow Him today? I think that examples like these remind us that we shouldn’t try to “put God in a box”, by telling Him how to fix our problems, or giving Him a specific timetable for answering our prayers, or only looking for His provision in a specific way. You can certainly ask God for what you need, and let Him know what difficulties you are facing, but keep both eyes open: He might have a solution waiting that you never dreamed of! (And, sometimes the trial itself is part of the plan, and even when it seems like we’re suffering because of someone else’s sins, God remains with His people, even then.)
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 4, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 