ELIJAH: WAITING AT THE WADI

Elijah’s first assignment, confronting the evil king, was exciting, offering prestige and publicity. The second assignment wasn’t! Giving Elijah his second directive, God said, “run for your life! Hurry! Go hide!” “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan” (1 Kings 17:3).

Why did God send Elijah to the Wadi? Three reasons… First, protection. God could have protected him in public, but God chose to shield and secure His prophet by leading him to a solitary place. God protects his own.

Second. Communion… quiet… Sometimes God says, “Quit talking. Quit doing. Be still. Be quiet. Rest. Listen.”

Third, judgment. God took Elijah away from his countrymen and stopped him from proclaiming God’s redemptive purposes. God was silent, the preacher wasn’t preaching, and hard-hearted Ahab and his people weren’t reminded of God’s grace and goodness.

At the Wadi, Elijah waited. And waited. And waited.

We’re not told how long Elijah camped out. Weeks. Months. While he waited, God’s daily provisions came … special delivery. “The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening, and he would drink from the wadi” (1 Kings 17:6).

I see two lessons from this story. Elijah obeyed. When the task was big and required boldness, Elijah obeyed. And when the task was simple and unseen, Elijah obeyed.

The second lesson is equally obvious. Elijah trusted God to protect and provide!

Obey and trust … Trust and Obey…

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word;What a glory He sheds on our way!While we do His good will, He abides with us still;And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way,To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).