Campmeeting 2023 | Ptr. Mark Turberville
In First Kings Chapter 17, Elijah, whose name means "my God is Jehovah," appears suddenly to deliver a stark message to King Ahab: "There shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." This prophecy, a consequence of Israel's sin and Ahab's wickedness, including his marriage to Jezebel and promotion of Baal worship, fulfills the curses outlined in Deuteronomy and Amos. Immediately after delivering this 25-word sermon, God commands Elijah, "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith... I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." This command to hide, to go "one step at a time," is for Elijah to learn humility and for God to remove His voice from a rebellious Israel. The word "Cherith" means "cut off" or "cut down," symbolizing the isolation God sometimes uses to humble His servants. Elijah's three years of solitude at the brook, being fed by unclean ravens, illustrate God's provision in unexpected ways and His desire to teach patience and dependence. This period of "isolation is not a bad place to be," as it is "designed to bring you closer to God." Just as God removed His voice from Israel, He sometimes removes His servants from public view to refine them. The drying up of the brook, after "a while," signifies that change is inevitable and that God often moves His servants to new ministries, preparing them for future tasks, like helping the widow of Zarephath. The message concludes by urging Christians to embrace God's humbling process, so they can be "a vessel fit for the Master’s use."
Published: 7/11/2025
A Man with a Message
Elijah comes on the scene seemingly out of nowhere. Before this chapter, you do not read of this man in the Bible; his name is not mentioned or hinted at, and you have never heard of a Tishbite before chapter 17. But he arrives with a message for the king. In the previous chapter, you read that Ahab did evil in the sight of the LORD above all who were king before him. Then in verse 31, 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. If you remember Jeroboam, every time you read that man’s name in the Bible, it says, “Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.” What a legacy, what an epitaph for your tombstone! He caused Israel to sin because he put a golden calf in Bethel and one in Dan, saying it was too much to go up to Jerusalem to worship.
The Bible says that as if this had been a light thing for Ahab, he also took Jezebel to wife, the daughter of the king of the Zidonians, and he made an altar to her god in Samaria. Verse 33 of the previous chapter says that Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
Then, in chapter 17, enter Elijah. His name literally means “my God is Jehovah.” He appears, as I said, without ever having been mentioned before, with a specific message for that man, the king. He looked him in the face, delivered it, and left. It was a short sermon, just 25 words, with no beating around the bush. Basically, he said, “King, there is going to be no dew nor rain until I say so.”
Moses had told their ancestors in Deuteronomy 28:15, “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.” Verse 24 says, “The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.” Can you imagine? Instead of rain, all that comes down is dust and powder. No moisture. Everything is drying up, trees are dying, animals are dying—there is no water.
Second Chronicles 6:26 says, “When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee…” They had the history; they knew the command, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” and that if they did, one of these curses would come upon them. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” In Amos chapter 4, God says, “And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” He continues, “And also I have withholden the rain from you… I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city… so two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied.” And He finishes with, “yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.”
You would think that with a message like the one Elijah just gave, Ahab would have wanted him to stay close, to advise him and tell him what Jehovah wanted done. But he does not do that. He wanted to keep himself surrounded with his counselors and the counselors of his wife—by those who told him what he wanted to hear. Isaiah chapter 30 says, “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things.” The Bible says that in the latter days they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. We have people today in our Independent Baptist churches who do not like to hear hard preaching. They do not want to hear the meat of the Word of God; they just want to be fed on milk and soft food. They want to remain the same little, pacified, bottle-sucking babies they have always been, never maturing. Why? The Bible says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare.” They might offend their mom or dad or their employer. They do not want to lose their status, because if you start witnessing to your family, you might get kicked out of the family or left out of the will. The king of Israel liked it this way. He liked people to do things for him so he did not have to take responsibility.
The Command to Hide
After Elijah gave this message to Ahab, God immediately took him away and gave him specific instructions. Verses 3 and 4 say, “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.”
“Elijah, don’t stay here. Leave. Get thee hence. Get out of here. I want you to go east. I have a specific place for you to go and a specific thing for you to do.” If you would please notice, He only gives Elijah instructions one step at a time—enough leading for one step at a time. “Elijah, go to the king and say this.” Then, “Elijah, leave this place, go east to the brook, and hide there. I want you to stay right there.”
Can you imagine if, when you got saved, God had pulled back the curtain and showed you everything you were going to go through as a Christian? I do not think anybody would want to be a Christian. It is not an easy life, but it is a worthwhile life. There was a lot more that God had for Elijah to do, but He only gave it to him one step at a time. The same is true for you and me. I remember reading about the life of D.L. Moody, and one of the quotes that stuck with me was, “The world has yet to see what God can do with one man fully consecrated to him. By God's help, I aim to be that man.” He went on to be one of the greatest evangelists the world has ever known, starting Moody Bible College and many other endeavors for God. However, God only let him go one step at a time, giving him just enough direction so he did not get ahead of God. That is our problem today; we want to see the big picture, but God says, “You don’t need to see the big picture. Let Me lead you where I want you.” Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Related Topics
Obedience Humility Provision