Bring Everyone Along: When God Makes an Unusual Promise through an Unusual Messenger
by Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter
“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.”
Yet another unusual “what is God saying here?” scripture.
God has just announced a drought and famine in the land. There is to be no rain, no dew even. That means failing crops and no food. For 3 years. Ahab is king, and he is evil in God’s sight. The people of the region are desperate.
So what does God do? He directs His prophet Elijah to camp by a brook where ravens would bring him bread and meat twice a day and he could drink from the brook, ensuring that even in this time Elijah would have food and water. OK, not surprising that God would take care of the only prophet in the land, but…
… the raven is a surprising servant for a prophet: Leviticus (11:13, 15) describes ravens as “detestable” and “abhorrent”. They are considered unclean, as they are scavengers. The raven is the bird that did not return to the ark when Noah released one to measure the receding floodwaters. As such, dependence on these unclean birds, in any guise, but especially as servants of God, bringing food, was likely a rather confusing/humbling/extraordinary idea for Elijah.
And yet, even unclean, ravens are mentioned specifically in Scripture, several times, as creatures under God’s care. Look at Job 38:41. Psalm 147. Luke 12:24.
Indigenous belief is that raven feathers symbolize transformation, knowledge, and the duality of existence. Ravens are part of the mystery of the cosmos, guardians of secrets. Hmmm… maybe no wonder God chose a raven to bring food to Elijah.
Recently, the day after my father passed on into Heaven, I found a raven feather. Ravens are abundant in the park near my house, but I’d never found a fully intact feather before. I’m not particularly superstitious, but it reminded me that God’s help often come from sources we wouldn’t normally think of as helpful, or from the Lord. My friend calls them “God winks”.
Like the young Down’s student working with an agency, two days later, standing on a corner of downtown Cincinnati handing out hand-drawn Valentine’s Day cards who, unprompted, told me “it will all be OK”.
Like the call I got the next day from my college roommate, whom I’d not spoken to in years, just to catch up.
Like the invitation to a special concert where a friend had written a commission, that evening.
Look for the ravens in your day – those that bring life. Bread and meat. They are God winks. The ones from the most unexpected places are actually the ones that most grab your attention, are they not?
