Our Sunday School lesson last week focused on the story of Elijah and his announcement of a Great Drought. (1 Kings 17) Elijah was a prophet of God and his calling required him to call out the sin of the people. When Elijah announced that there would be no rain or dew in the land for several years, he was simply reminding the people of a consequence of their sin – the refusal to acknowledge God as their sustainer. A drought in the land was divine punishment that would affect the fertility of the land and cause a famine. The very people that refused to give God the credit for producing the rain would find out in a very real way just how powerful God was.
Sometimes things dry up as a result of sin.
Our God is a God of mercy and grace and He does allow things to dry up as a result of our sin and disobedience. When this happens, it is painful – but it is not permanent! God’s love is so great that He would rather see us suffer for a time in order to bring us to repentance and a right relationship with Him than to allow us to be separated from Him eternally. He longs for us to turn from sin and to run to Him.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
Elijah’s announcement of drought for the people meant that the source of water would be drying up for him as well. I wonder if Elijah had concerns as he proclaimed the punishment. But God had plans for His servant, and He sent Elijah to a brook where he would find water to drink and birds to bring him food. Relying on ravens to feed him must have required a great deal of faith, but imagine how Elijah must have also marveled at the clear water that flowed through that stream during a drought!
Have you ever found yourself in a season where you were abundantly aware of the blessings poured out on you? When God places His hand of protection and provision upon you in the midst of difficulty in the world, it can be extremely faith-building. I imagine that Elijah gained strength in that time – and he would need it! When you find yourself in that place, be intentional about your praise and gratitude – be purposeful about cooperating with God to grow and strengthen your faith – and be prepared for what is to come!
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Sometimes things dry up to cause us to move.
Wouldn’t it be glorious to stay in that place? Drinking from the clear, flowing water, eating food dropped from the sky, resting and hiding from the troubles of the world – just you and God and nature. Elijah might have been content to stay there forever, but he wasn’t functioning in his calling there. God used that time to strengthen and sustain and grow Elijah, but the time came when God was ready to use him again – so He dried up Elijah’s source of water and told him to move!
It often comes a surprise – and not a happy one. The stream of income dries up. The sweet friendship dries up. The desire to create dries up. The opportunity of a lifetime dries up. Whatever it is – the thing that has quenched your thirst or fed your soul – it just goes away, it stops, it dries up. And its not because that thing was bad, or because you did something wrong – it may simply be time to move on. It may be time to get back to work – doing that thing that God has called you to do.
“Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”
1 Kings 17:7-9
Let’s not miss the order of events here! First, the brook dried up – then, the word of the Lord came to Elijah. I don’t know about you, but I would prefer it to be the other way around. I like for God to give me directions first so I can feel comfortable with the way things go down, but this is not usually how God operates.
Rick Warren
God wants us to develop confidence in Him. The more we learn to trust in Him, the more effective we can be in following Him and doing the work He has called us to do.
Sometimes things dry up to increase our faith.
Each step God led Elijah through increased his understanding of God, of God’s character, and of God’s power. God commanded natural elements (rain and flowing water) as well as animals (ravens) to provide for Elijah’s needs. Once Elijah was confident in that provision, God moved him to a place where he could see God work in a different way – through a desperate widow with free will. Each of these instances grew Elijah’s faith and confidence in order to prepare him for the next thing.
Sometimes things dry up to increase the faith of others.
One might assume that just because Elijah was a prophet that he always viewed things through a lens of faith. But let us not forget that Elijah was a man. When God dries up what seems like a good thing in my life, I tend to wonder, “Why me – why now?” It often takes hindsight to see that it was never all about me in the first place!
The widow that God sent Elijah to was an unlikely candidate to provide anything for him. She was without a provider herself and laden with responsibility for her child. She was down to her last hope, seemingly without any options. No income, no food, no family, no rain – and she had accepted the fact that she and her son would die. This woman did not know God. She was worthless in the eyes of the world – but God saw her and loved her. God used the widow to provide food for His prophet and He used Elijah to provide hope for her! God could have accomplished both completely on His own but He chose to invite them to witness and participate in His work – and He does the same for us!
Oh that I may have eyes to see God moving, a heart to love as He loves, and a spirit willing to be used.
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Romans 12:11
What is drying up in your life? Spend some time in prayer, seeking God and His direction. Ask Him the following questions:
- Is there sin in my life that begs for repentance?
- Is God asking me to move (physically, emotionally, spiritually)?
- Am I cooperating with God’s desire to grow my faith? Am I trusting Him to protect and provide?
- Is God using my situation to grow the faith of someone else? Am I willing to be used by God?
Whatever is happening – turn your eyes upon Him. Let go and allow Him to work in whatever way He will. You can be certain that He is working for your good and new things are on the horizon!
”Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18