A Place called “There”

By Peter Crause

1Ki 17:3-4 Get thee hence, and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it will be that you will drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.

1Ki 17:9 Arise, go to Zarephath, which is in Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you.

The setting of these accounts is after Elijah had confronted King Ahab with the news that there would be no rain – until he; Elijah said otherwise. Israel had fallen into gross idolatry and the worship of Baal had become their religion – ardently aided by Jezebel, the king’s wife. She financed the entire operation. Following this confrontation, the Lord told Elijah to go to a certain place – the brook Cherith.

The word “there” indicates a place or location. God told Elijah to go to a specific place. It was only at this place that the Lord’s promise of provision would be found; the place called “there”. Remember, Elijah had just declared there would be a severe drought. God had a plan to return Israel to the true God. Aren’t we fortunate to have a God who doesn’t give up on us and leave us in sin and idolatry? I’m sure at this stage Elijah didn’t have a clue as to what the Lord intended. It is best we don’t know too much of what is ahead. We’d probably boast in our knowledge, or even try to manipulate the future and foul God’s plans. If we walk in His will today, tomorrow and every day we’re alive, we will find a gradual unfolding of His plan and purpose. What we need right now is to know where our “there” is.

Obeying the Lord and going to where the Lord directed him, resulted in miraculous provision. God used ravens – a ceremoniously unclean bird – to bring food to feed the prophet, daily. Here is a lesson I believe every Televangelist and TV preacher should take note of. Instead of fleecing the Lord’s people by begging constantly for money, they should find if they are “there”, and then seek the Lord to provide the necessary means to fulfill what it is the Lord wants. “Where God guides, He provides!”

What can we learn from this? God is able to provide even by means of unclean birds. God is not limited in any way. All the gold and silver is His. He can cause unsaved people to meet your needs. I believe if we would find “there”, there would be no lack in the Lord’s provision and presence.

The brook dried up – there was no rain – so the Lord gave the prophet further instruction:

1Ki 17:8-16 and the word of the LORD came to him, saying, arise, go to Zarephath, which is in Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, bring me, I pray, a morsel of bread in your hand. And she said, As the LORD your God lives, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it to me, and after make for yourself and for your son. For this says the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal will not waste, neither will the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Elijah.

The old “there” was no longer in effect. The time had come to move on to the next place. The Lord never chose a rich or affluent person; or someone in government; but a poor widow and son. At first glance we may be tempted to say the Lord was cruel in doing this. By the woman’s own confession she was “at the bottom of the barrel”; death to her and her son was staring them in the face. But GOD! I’m so thankful for the “but Gods” scattered throughout scripture. God was not only interested in providing for Elijah through this poor woman, but was going to bless her abundantly at the same time. God’s work is not necessarily accomplished by the “rich and famous”, but by insignificant and willing people from all walks of life – even the rich and famous if He so chooses.

Elijah arrogantly demanded she feed him first – then herself and child. We may disparage Elijah here, but remember he was doing as the Lord was instructing him. Here was a severe test for this woman. She said it was to be their last meal. But God had already spoken to this woman. Anyhow, giving her last provision to the “Kingdom of God” would only bring death one meal closer – if the Lord wasn’t going to provide.

I faced a similar test once when at Bible School – “give your last money to someone else in need!” I obeyed and never ever lacked. Her obedience resulted in miraculous multiplication of the oil and meal. She never lacked as long as the drought continued; and Elijah was sustained by God through this willing and obedient widow.

We are so prone to “hang on to” our possessions. How much blessing are we missing because of this attitude? The Word says “give and it shall be given unto you,”

Two places called “there” in the life of Elijah. When he was “there” he got everything the Lord wanted him to have.

Dear ones, could it be that our lack in every area of our lives is because we’re not “there”? May each one of us seek the Lord and get new direction; so we can enter into the extravagant abundance of the Lord.