Author: Dwight Clough

Elijah said to her, "Don’t be afraid." — 1 Kings 17:13I like reading books on World War II. In a great war there are many fronts, and battles take place in many arenas. In WWII, some were assigned to breaking codes, others to bombing bridges, others to storming beaches, others to getting civilians into bomb shelters, and so on.In the war between good and evil, there are many fronts. The battle is played out in many ways. Truth vs. lies. Kindness vs. cruelty. Humility vs. pride. And so on. But one of the most important battle lines in this whole…

But first make a small cake of bread for me. — 1 Kings 17:13Elijah asked the destitute widow to feed him first. He had heard her belief system: "I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it — and die." And now he flatly contradicted it.Her perception: We are about to die. The truth: You are about to live.Her perception: We have nothing. The truth: You have abundance.Elijah didn’t stand around arguing with her about her mixed up perceptions. Instead, he invited her to experience the…

I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it — and die. — 1 Kings 17:12Notice how God builds faith in us. He starts by bringing us to the end of our own resources. That’s how we learn the difference between us and Him. When we know that we have nothing, then we know that whatever is given us comes from God.When all hope dies and we cannot see any way out, then God shows us a way. He shows us a door that we didn’t…

Many self employed people – painters, contractors, tree trimmers, carpet cleaners, mechanics, etc., etc. – could benefit from a website, but don’t have the time or expertise to do it themselves. If you know someone like that, could you hand them one of my cards? You can print it from here, or I will be happy to mail you some.She went away and did as Elijah had told her. — 1 Kings 17:15Faith comes in many different colors and styles. But one of the most powerful forms of faith is doing what God tells you to do, even when it…

As many of you know, a friend has been missing since 7/17/07. Fran Tate was last seen at a prayer meeting that Tuesday evening. She spoke of stopping at a park on her way home to find something she previously left there. If you haven’t already seen the poster, I encourage you to check it out here.Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food. — 1 Kings 17:9Isn’t something backwards here? A Gentile widow is providing for an Israelite man. Shouldn’t it be the other…

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. — 1 Kings 17:7What do you do when the brook dries up? God’s blessings have ended, His protection is gone, all is bleak … or so it seems.This is what writers call the end of a chapter. It’s a cliffhanger. The hero was trying to solve a problem and got himself into bigger trouble instead. Trouble has escalated … now things aren’t just difficult, they’re impossible.I don’t know what Elijah was doing. Except I do know this: He was listening. Sometimes life pushes us…

So [Elijah] did what the Lord told him. — 1 Kings 17:5Did you ever watch ants? The ants around here have a distinctive way of walking. (I don’t know if this is true worldwide — maybe our readers on other continents can let me know.) But, around here, ants take a few steps and then they stop. I pointed this out to my children. I explained to them, "This is how you live the Christian life. God gives you direction, you follow it as far as you can, and then you get more direction. And He usually only gives you…

"You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." — 1 Kings 17:4God never runs out of options. When our backs are up against the wall, He has wonderful creative alternatives. Stop and think about it. How many times in history have ravens brought meals to hungry people? As far as I know, it only happened once. Another time when people were hungry, God rained down manna and quail. Another time, He split open loaves and fish. Another time he made the flour and oil jars bottomless. And then, I know of stories…

"Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan." — 1 Kings 17:3God is practical. He steps into our lives as they really are. The stuff of God’s leading consists of parking places and apple pies, of budget line items and a walk along the beach. In this passage, God’s leading to Elijah consisted of directions and a destination, of protection and a plan.God’s leading in the practical matters of this life give us reasonable hope that He will continue to be the same God who leads us into all His promises that we cannot…

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here …" –1 Kings 17:2-3aThis is how we discover God: He tells us to do something that makes no sense to the flesh (the part of us that still embraces sin or lies), we do it, and then He shows us the next step. Elijah needed to deliver his message to Ahab before he would learn any further details about the plan of God, and, ultimately, about God Himself.God reveals Himself to us in steps. He invites us to take His hand, we take it, and He leads us through…