First Kings chapters 11-16 are some of the bleakest chapters in all of Scripture. Solomon, the world’s wisest man, becomes the world’s greatest fool. Rehoboam splits the kingdom of Israel through sheer youthful stubbornness. Jeroboam becomes king over ten tribes of Israel and yokes the people of Israel to bull worship. Israel’s next kings weren’t much better. Omri is labeled the crown prince of evil. His awfulness is only surpassed by his son, Ahab, who marries a jezebel, orders the rebuilding of Jericho, and continues to lead Israel down the muck and mire pit of Baal worship.

Lonely Prophets

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word (1 Kings 17:1).

Then suddenly from the darkness comes a blazing light. Elijah comes on the stage of Israel’s history like a crash of thunder, only to disappear in a whirlwind. The writer of Kings doesn’t give Elijah an introduction (1 Kings 17:1). Readers are left with a thousand questions. Where did he go to seminary? What is his Twitter handle? How many followers does he have? What books has he written? Does he have a podcast? Is he married? What about children? Who are his friends? What conferences has he preached? How did he meet Ahab? Where did he get that outfit?

The writer doesn’t give us the answers to the questions we are looking for concerning Elijah. All that’s given is his name, and his hometown. Elijah means “My God is Yahweh.” His hometown of Gilead was located just east of the Jordan River. Gilead was a mountainous and rugged area. The people of Gilead reflected the nature of their environment: they were rough and rugged, solemn and stern, dwelling in rather plain villages and subsisting by keeping flocks of sheep. They were hardened by an open-air life, dressed in a cloaks of camel’s hair, and accustomed to spending most of their time in solitude. It’s no question as to why Elijah stood out in Israel. He didn’t live, look, or sound like the rest of Israel.

Why is it important to note the abruptness of Elijah’s ministry? The great movement of evil in Israel made it seem as if darkness would prevail. The majority of people were worshipping Baal, and neglecting the True God. But we must be sure that God, in unexpected places and times, has already secretly prepared a counter-movement. God can raise men and women out of nowhere. Elijah’s life stands out like a diamond laying upon black velvet. But like any diamond, it has to be mined and cut and molded into the dazzling wonder that it is.

Part of Elijah’s preparation was in the school of loneliness. Elijah might be the loneliest man in Scripture. Unlike other heroes of the Old and New Testaments, Elijah worked alone. He didn’t have the support of a wife, family, friends or associates. He appears and disappears by himself. Elijah was educated in the desert, and discipled in solitude.

There is no question that many are struggling during this pandemic crisis. For many, the recommendation to stay at home and quarantine is worse than the virus itself. Some are so dependent on being connected to others. Whether physically or digitally, they have to be in constant contact with people. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with that. Even the Lord said, “It’s not good for man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18).

On the other hand, if a man is to be much for God, then he must be much with God. I’d dare say, during this dark time, God is raising up men and women who will be much for God, because they have spent much time with God.

Before the rise of digital photos, we developed pictures in the dark. Likewise, the greatest of ministries are those that are developed in the dark. Seasons of lonely prayer, and Bible study in conjunction with periods spent alone with God. That’s what will make ministries great.

I’ve mentioned it recently, but you shouldn’t waste this moment. We’ve all been given an allotment of time to be much with God. This isn’t a time to waste on the trivialities of social media, television, and a host of other time wasting outlets. If there are going to be some Elijahs in this moment of history, then you need to make sure you’re making most of these moments.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Now is the time to be sharpening your axe. Now is the opportunity to be preparing for our greatest moments.

Elijah appears abruptly, but his ministry had long-term effects. I think of John the Baptist, who came in the spirit of Elijah. Little is known about his short life. How did he get to where he got? He gave his head to Herod, but John had given his heart to Jehovah many years before that.

We know much of Jesus’ conception and birth. There is, however, very little information given from that time until his ministry. The first thirty years of His life are silent, but the three years of His ministry are history changing.

The point being, is that if you can’t dedicate your life during the silence, then you won’t make a difference in spotlight.

Can your ministry survive without applause? Are you able to continue working for the Lord if no one pats you on the back? Can you lead worship without anyone there? Because that’s what we are having to do during this pandemic.

We need a generation that can turn off the noise, and have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. I’m not just speaking to those who are tuning in, I’m speaking to myself as well. It’s easy to get distracted, and allow the noise of technology to lure us away from our purpose.

Dirty Birds

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there (1 Kings 17:1-4)

Elijah points his finger in the face of Ahab, and says, “As the Lord God liveth, before home I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” Evil has met its match. God’s prophet is ready to have a showdown with Israel’s Baal worshiping king.

Going back to Deuteronomy 11, the blessing of seasonal rain was dependent upon Israel’s adherence to the Law of Moses. The two seasons of rainfall for Israel was March-April and October-November. The time between was quite dry. Therefore, a prophecy of a draught was troubling to say the least. But Israel’s drought would last three years! Furthermore, it wasn’t just a draught of rain, it was a drought of the Word of God. Elijah wasn’t going to be sticking around Israel. I’m not sure what it worse, the drought of rain, or a drought of the Word of God.

There has been quite a panic over the last month concerning supplies. Empty shelves and empty cupboards have become unusual for us North Americans.

But what of our prayer closets? Are they empty too? What about our Bibles? Have they gathered dust while our digital devices have to be charged every two-three hours? We should be concerned if God isn’t speaking during this time.

The Lord told Elijah to head towards the brook at Cherith near the Jordan. Elijah was to drink from the brook to have his thirst quenched. But the next part is interesting – “I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.”

Ravens themselves were considered by the Law of Moses to be unclean (Lev. 11:15; Deut. 14:14). What kind of meat would a dirty bird bring? Don’t ask, just cook it and eat it. I don’t think Elijah desired to consider the raven’s sources.

Here God commanded a dirty bird to feed his prophet. More times than not we like to put everything through our sanctified filter and examine if something or someone is really qualified what God has called them to do.

But have you considered, that God can sanctify the dirty birds and use them for His purpose and glory? Let us be reminded that none of us were the spiritual doves hovering over Christ’s sovereign head. No, all of us are just justified and sanctified dirty birds.

There might be someone listening to this right now and you are wondering if you are even worthy to be used of the Lord. Beloved, if He can command a dirty bird to do His bidding, He can take you from the depths of sin and despair and make you a workable vessel.

Hopeless Widows

And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee (1 Kings 17:7-9).

The brook dried up and the ravens moved on. The Lord sent Elijah on his next pit-stop during the drought – Zaraphath. Like the dirty birds, God has commanded a widow woman to sustain the prophet.

Now, let’s study this hopeless widow woman a little closer. First, we need to notice where her P.O. Box is located – Zaraphath. Now, I’ve read this numerous times over the years and missed some key information. Zaraphath was located in the region of Zidon, about 80 miles north of Samaria. This wasn’t Israelite country. Let’s see who’s in charge in Zarapheth in Zidon.

And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him (1 Kings 16:31).

Elijah had pointed his finger in the face of Ahab, king of Israel, who was married to Jezebel, princess of Zidon. Jezebel’s daddy was Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians.

Now, the Lord told Elijah to go to Zaraphath, which is located in Zidon, and find a widow woman there. So Elijah is headed to Paganville in Heathenland to be fed by a widow woman. Additionally, the king’s daughter would like nothing more than to have Elijah’s head on a raven-shaped platter.

Furthermore, “widow” and “sustain” probably sounded just as bizarre as dirty birds working for DoorDash. Widows, at that time, meant someone was in dire poverty. A widow in Old Testament times didn’t attend night school, learn how to code, haver her own YouTube channel, nor starred in sitcom living with her childhood best friend and sister raising her kids. Widowhood was usually a woman with dirt under her fingernails from scratching out the scantest of livings.

If one could chose, dirty birds sounded more dependable than a hopeless widow. Nevertheless, Elijah traveled to Zaraphath.

Let us see another picture of grace in this beautiful chapter in First Kings.

We should see that this widow’s god had left her in a pit of hopelessness. Yet, God has come to her doorstep to press her into His service. Don’t think for one moment that God doesn’t care, and doesn’t know where you are. There might be some who have felt forgotten during this time. But God might be sending a prophet to your door for such a time as this.

Here is a gentile woman living in the midst of a godless society, and the God of all creation has chosen her. Here is grace that moves beyond the boundaries of Israel, God’s covenant people, and embraces one of Baal’s most hopeless victims. We know her address, but don’t know her name. Yet this nameless widow joins the litany of Old Testament gentiles who were included in the inner circle of grace. One thinks of Jethro (Ex.18); Rahab (Josh. 2,6); Ruth, and Naaman (2 Kings 5). What happens at the house of a hopeless widow in Zaraphath is but a glimpse of that day when God would grant ‘even to the gentiles repentance that leads to life’ (Acts 11:18).

Conclusion

What can God do with a lonely prophet, dirty birds, and a hopeless widow? Anything. Who else but God would ever design to use a lonely prophet, dirty birds, and a hopeless widow? Who am I to object that God would commission these into His service?

What of this moment in history? Could God use a global pandemic to fulfill His will? Could God be adopting this moment to awaken prophets? Could God be using this period to call and sanctify some dirty birds? Is this crisis being used of God to minister to the hopeless who feel forgotten?