Gleanings from my Bible

THE EMPTY BOAT

2016-09-04T11:52:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURAL PORTION Luke 5:4

On one particular night, Peter toiled hard until dawn. It was a night of failure. When the sun arose, a tired and disheartened Peter had nothing to show for his hard work except empty nets and an empty boat.

The next morning, Jesus came to the shore preaching to multitudes. There was no room on land and Jesus saw the empty boat and made a strange request! Jesus asked Peter to put out his boat a little from the land. Peter who perhaps had only heard of Jesus before, asked no questions and willingly let Jesus enter his boat. Peter’s empty boat transformed to a pulpit for the Master’s sermon.

After the multitudes had dispersed, Jesus again came to Peter with a strange instruction, ‘Launch out into the deep’. Peter knew it was useless to go fishing in the daytime. Nevertheless, he spread his net in simple obedience. The empty boat witnessed a great miracle and transformed into a vessel with an abundant catch of fish.

Through these events, Jesus was revealing himself to Peter because God had a greater plan for Peter – to impact the course of church history, to make him

Do you have an empty boat today? An unsuccessful job, a broken marriage or failing health? Surrender your emptiness to the Master. He has greater plans to use you for His glory. Let him transform your failures to beautiful miracles, even beyond your imagination.

WHERE HAS THOU GLEANED TODAY?

2010-02-27T16:16:00.001-08:00

SCRIPTURAL PORTION - Ruth 2: 19

Ruth the Moabitess had made the choice to follow Naomi, her mother-in-law to the land of Israel. She accepted Jehovah as her God, and chose to deny her pagan gods.

Ruth settled down with Naomi, in a land, where it's people and it's culture and traditions, were completely new to her. She was confronted with the nuances of everyday life and also the major decision of finding a livelihood.

As a family, their very first priority was to find a way for their daily sustenance. It was the time of the barely harvest (Ch 1:22). According to the custom of the land, she could go out in the morning and glean the fields. The easiest way would have been to choose a plentiful field and go glean behind the reapers. But Ruth prayerfully seeks permission, for this very insignificant decision. It was nothing compared to the major decisions she had previously taken, yet she depended on the Lord for the trivial decisions and in her daily chores, which is reflected in Ch 2:2, "Let me now go...glean...after him in whose sight I shall find grace."

God answered her plea. She was led to the field of Boaz (Ch 2:3), unaware that he was her husband's kinsman, who would later become her redeemer and husband. That small prayer of dependence on God brought her hope and blessings manifold.

Blessings of Ruth's dependence on God.
The field of blessing - that is where her humble prayer led her. Boaz, came to visit the field to monitor the progress of the harvest. Among the many ladies, that probably gleaned there, Boaz happened to notice Ruth working hard in the field. He invited her and brought her into his household and she was bestowed with many blessings.

1. Privilege (verse 8 - "Go not to glean in another field")
She was given the privilege to be a part of the harvest, till it ended, like a guest, and not like a poor lady who required the master's favor. She received more than she needed, not just for herself, but for her family too.

2. Protection (verse 9 - "..have I not charged the young men.. not to touch thee?")
Gleaning was an activity that the poorest families in the land resorted to. And by no means was it dignified. The young men, who harvested would probably hustle and shove the gleaners around. But for Ruth, the master himself had offered her, his protection. She was completely secure and did not have to be afraid that she was a loner in a foreign land.

3. Provision (verse 9, 14 - "When thou art athirst, go unto the vessels" ; "At mealtime come thou hither and eat")
The Master provided for her physical needs, perceiving her needs even before she voiced them. The Master also brought parched corn especially for her. All that she needed to complete her tasks in the field was provided for.

4. Prescience (verse 11 - "It hath fully been shown me")
Ruth was in the presence of a master, who knew everything about her, and accepted her as she was. The Master, knew the ups and downs in her life and fully understood her. What a relief it must have been for her, for she did not have to explain anything to him.

5. Peace and Comfort (verse 13 - "Thou hast comforted me")
Ruth found peace and comfort in the Master's field. She had prayed for grace, but found assurance. She only wanted to glean, but brought home a huge measure of barley, as though she reaped. (She brought home an ephah of barley, equivalent to 15 kgs - verse 17)

Her mother-in-law was astounded at the measure of barley, and asked her, "Where has thou gleaned today?"

We have a Master, who beckons us to himself, to his presence, and into the sweet fellowship with him. All the blessings that Ruth received also awaits us, if we depend on him, for even the trivial things of our daily routine. Ruth looked to God for grace, before she began her day. How much more should we commune with the Lord, ask for his grace, and his leading, before we begin our day!.

The word of God is ripe with his directions and blessings. When we sit and meditate, we glean the precious word, for our spiritual nourishment. If we approach the Master's field, we find grace and guidance, for a blessed day ahead.

"WHERE HAVE YOU GLEANED TODAY?"

SIN LEAVES BEHIND A SCAR

2009-11-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

During our family prayer, we have been reading from 2 Samuel for the past few days. Here I put down, a thought, that has had it’s profound effect on me.

SCRIPTURAL PORTION - 2 Samuel 12: 9, 10

2 Samuel is a book that speaks on the life of King David of Israel. As we progress through the account of his life, we see arrogance and self-conceit ruin the life, of probably the greatest King of Israel.

As a young shepherd lad, David found favor in the eyes of Jehovah, and was anointed King of Israel. Yet the ascent to the throne did not happen as quickly as David would have expected. King Saul ruled the land. Although David had a huge number of warriors at his disposal and could have easily dethroned the King, we see that David waited patiently for the Lord to work and reveal His will. This wait prolonged for years. King Saul made it no easy for him to survive - let alone think about the throne.

The character of David is revealed through this period of wait and we see God’s choice of King for Israel is absolutely impeccable. Just, benevolent, valiant and most importantly, a man after God's heart. He placed God foremost in his life and looked to the Lord for every step he took. He did not act until he had God’s consent. God gave him dominion over all the neighboring enemy nations and he subdued all who came in his way. God did not let any force triumph over him. Finally after years of battle, David ascended the throne. Peace reigned in the land.

Now getting back to the context - Israel was defamed among the Ammonites, and had to win back their bruised glory. As the king, David should have ideally begun preparations for the war. Instead he chose to relax in his palace when his troops were gearing up for battle. Wrong place! David did not also seek God's counsel. Wrong decision!!

While his army is battling at the forefront, David goes to a very inappropriate place and sees Bathsheba, and the rest is history.

The very first sin that he did was to break the Ten Commandments. He looked, desired and coveted something that was not his. To acquire what he coveted, he had to do one sin after another. Deceit, conspiracy and murder followed. What brought David so low?

At the root of it all, lay pride and complacency. He took his blessings and power for granted. For a short span of time, he felt he was in control.

In the scripture, we see that David plotted and murdered Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. David then took her to be his wife. Shortly after David had a son. All this while David showed no remorse and went on with his life. Strangely, God is silent too and lets David carry on with his life until his son was born.

Bathsheba's son fell sick. David then came to sense his folly. God sent a prophet, accused David of his crime, and brought out his judgement through his very own mouth and verdict for himself. God touched the health of his son and eventually took the child's life. But the judgement of God had only just begun.

God vowed that the sword would never leave his generations. His sons followed suits in committing crimes. His very throne and power was defied and despised by his sons. David did repent of his hideous sin, and sincerely too. God re-instated David and their relationship. But from then on, time did not permit him peace or rest. The curse that befell David, took away the complacent life. The wound was healed, but it left behind a huge scar.

Sin, although forgiven, leaves behind a scar. A symbol of remembrance that even others will see and remember.

JESUS CHRIST VISITED THEM

2008-11-27T04:45:00.000-08:00

Note: The words below are the imagination of the author and the intention of the author is to leave some food for thought on the reader’s personal and family life. The characters in this story are purely fictional.

It was Saturday afternoon. I stood there at the doorstep. My voice echoed. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in” (Rev 3:20)

The door was slightly open. I could see the hallway through the opening. I knocked a couple of times. No one answered. My curiosity got the better of me. I could see my name on the wall plaque, written in beautiful bold letters, “Christ is the Head of this home”. The voice echoed again. “…Christ is the head…” (Eph 5:23) “…that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Col 1:18)

Ahh….so, it was my home after all!!!! Alright, so I entered the living room. The maid was quietly dusting the furniture. Everything was elegantly arranged. Seemed like a nice family! I walked further. I saw a door that led to the study. The husband, Bobby was working on some bills from his company. He was neatly arranging them and accounting them in this book. An organized guy eh? I like my children to be that way. I went and glanced over his shoulder. The book was neat. I roughly scanned the entries. Perfect! Hmmm…I should be giving Bobby the ministry of handling the accounts of the Bethel Church (which Bobby and family attended). “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household” (Luk 12: 42)

I heard his wife call out to him, “Lunch is served”. “Coming” he said. Katie and Chris came running and seated themselves on the table. Bobby soon joined them. Two chairs were vacant. I sat on one of them, hoping to enjoy their time of fellowship together. Chris said, “Daddy, I want the robojet, like the one Jay has, for my birthday next week!” Bobby grunted and took a morsel. Soon plates were being passed around. Mary and Bobby were talking of about the pastor’s wife and the neighbors next door. “Judge not, that ye be not judged… And why beholdest thou the mote that is in they brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Mat 7: 1-2)

Katie and Chris were fidgeting with their forks. I sat there silently. They were oblivious of my presence. No one even thanked me for the blessing of a rich and happy meal. Thankfully the meal was soon over, or else the seed of contempt would have been sown in the hearts of the children.

Bobby sank into the recliner, turned on the TV and put on his favorite serial. There were people laughing. Was this amusing! I went to sit beside him. As I expected, he could not feel me sitting there. However, the characters did have a good sense of humor! Mary was on the phone. She soon joined him. She flicked through the channels, while telling Bobby, “That was Mr. Rice asking for a contribution for his son’s ministry in Turkey. I do have some money saved for the diamond necklace that I so wanted. But I don’t feel it’s a dire need for now. What do you think?” “It’s up to you dear. I know you’ve wanted the necklace for quite some time now. Moreover, there will definitely be others to pay for that need.” Right! I sure hope they save for heaven the same way. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mat 6: 19-21)

Loud music came up. Mary seemed to be interested in the music video. The moment she chose to watch it, I had to get up and walk away with a heavy heart. “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;” (Ps 119:37)

I went to the porch, and found some magazines there. Before I could pick them to have a look, I heard Katie say, “Dad, mom, I’m going out to the mall. I’m taking the car keys”. I could see that she was so confident that she did not bother to ask me for travel mercies. There she was, opening the door. I couldn’t believe what I just saw! If I had given this child to that childless couple in Bethel, they would have been more accountable and taught Katie to dress more modestly. Nothing grieved me more! “I will… that… women adorn themselves in modest apparel” (I Tim 2:8,9)

Chris was playing with his toys in the pen. Suddenly, he ran to his parents, as if he had been hit by a bolt of lightening. “Mommy, what day is tomorrow?” “It’s a Sunday, honey”.

“Do I really have to go to Sunday school, tomorrow? I have practice tomorrow. Why doesn’t Jay have to go to Sunday school?”

“Well, it’s just a matter of an hour until 11, honey. We’ll drop you off at practice also.”

“No, Mommy, you do not understand!, practice gets over by 11 am and I do not want to miss it. Then I will never get to be a good baseball player.”

“Alrite, then” Bobby replied. “You can go for practice, tomorrow.”

Chris ran back, jumping and shouting. Hmm… so practice was more important than going to Sunday school! How will I help Chris achieve his dreams, if neither he nor his parents, set their priorities right! I suppose he will have to learn the hard way. I wish his parents would have guided him to give more priority to the matters of my kingdom, and set apart at least one day of the week completely for me. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Mat 6:33). “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exo 20:8)

I slumped down on the porch, outside. The magazines were there. I was deeply weary of what I was observing and I had not further nerve to see what was in them. The only relief was to see my other creatures, in the garden, praising me. I could feel the breath of awe they took as their Master stood amongst them. The green leaves stooped down in adoration.

I heard Bobby on the phone. “I’ll be there in a jiffy.” He rushed out with the ledger and the bills. I managed to get inside his wife’s car, as he drove away. He rushed to the counter and handed over the stuff with him. The cashier was cross-checking the entries. He stopped at figure and asked, “Is this a 6 or a 0?” Bobby said, “It’s a six”. No! Wait I thought. I thought I had seen a figure of $1003 on the bill. The cashier checked for figure on the bill. To my amazement, it also showed a figure of $1603. I was furious! I knew what to do. I was terribly disappointed that I had lost a prospective steward of my house. “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luk 16:11)

I did not return, the way I had come. I was sure, an unwanted guest at Bobby’s home. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov 15:3 )

“Set thine house in order” (2 Kings 20:1

“Behold, I come quickly…to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev 22: 12)

THE BROKEN CISTERNS

2008-11-25T03:08:00.000-08:00

SCRIPTURAL PORTION FROM THE BIBLE : Jeremiah 2:13

God chose the nation of Israel and gave them a land flowing with milk and honey. God swore to protect them and make them flourish if they chose to obey his commandments. He even dwelt among them. He was their glory and pride. What more could a nation want! But they were foolish and their inner eyes turned to gods that their own hands had sculpted.

God was to them the fountain of living water, the source of life. But they wanted more. They tried to quench their inner thirst from broken cisterns which they had hewed with their own hands. These cisterns were so broken that they could not even hold water. Yet they forsook the fountain of living water and depended on these broken cisterns.

At the age of 13, my parents thought that it would be the best for me to stay with my granny and my aunt, to grow up into a sensible young lady. The first few months in India were exciting, as I was slowly taking in the new. People would usually say to my granny “What a happy child!”

But then rebellion started raging in me. It was hard to be away from the familiar circumstances in which I had grown up. Everything was different. I hated my parents and family for doing this to me. My old granny and aunt loved me dearly, and they spent many hours on their knees interceding for me. They did things for me to keep me happy. Yet I abused them every day. I squandered their precious savings to hurt them. As I grew up I did even worse things that I cannot even bear to write of. Soon I shun my family, and probably everybody I knew and always locked myself in my room right after school. I befriended the wrong people, who were my inspiration for many years. I pursued hobbies that were dark and evil. I finally brought myself to believe there is no God.

The nation of Israel suffered for its foolishness. The very idols that they trusted to help them in their times of distress, sat their in their shrines smirking and silent and not answering a word, or bringing help.

It was as if even when they were weak with thirst, they chose to drink from the broken cisterns that had no water, although the fountain of living water was flowing free for them.

For me, seven years went by. It was time to move out of town for my education. God was working in my life. He took me to a place, where I would experience helplessness like I have never experienced before. My education demanded lot of field work and corporate exposure. Each time, I approached someone, a friend, they would just shrug. People, whom I had helped during their times of trouble, never even bothered to hear me out. I had even laid on my bed for days being sick and no one to take care of me. I was ridiculed and bullied many times. I was almost at my wits end.

For many years my aunt had been relentlessly urging me to read the Bible. Reluctantly and with much sarcasm, I started reading the Bible, when I discovered I had no one to turn to for solace. I realized my foolishness was beyond measure and that I had lost my adolescent years to grudge and remorse. God’s comfort filled my heart. Soon I was so thirsty for this divine comfort that all I would do in my spare time is to read the Bible. People saw me smile again. I started talking to people around me. For the first time in many years, I longed to be with my family.

I decided to trust the Lord, for every next step that I had to take and depend on no man for my needs. Peace and joy beyond understanding filled me, even though the future steps where getting tougher by the hour. I was confronted with a need and I looked to the Lord alone. Help came – beyond even my wildest dreams. But, even more, I found true satisfaction through it. The relationship with God turned out to be a friendship. Then, there was no human friend, who could take God’s place in my life.

It was then I went on vacation at my granny’s place. During our family prayer, my aunt, took up the Malayalam version of the hymn, “O Christ, in Thee My Soul hath found”. We reached the third verse of the hymn and my past came flashing before me. Tears! Silent Tears! I managed to secretly wipe them away.

I tried the broken cisterns, Lord

But, ah, the waters failed;

Even as I stooped to drink they fled,

And mocked me as I wailed.

Now none but Christ can satisfy,

None other Name for me!

There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,

Lord Jesus, found in Thee.

For years, I spent my time, in vanity, trusting friends, or my talents and abilities to help me achieve my ambitions in life. I idolized money, power, success, achievement, pleasure, security, in the hope for self-actualization. I had even thought my education would help me reach my goals and give me a good life. Not only did my idols fail, but my inner strength withered away and I felt empty and wretched inside.

God reached out to me, so that I could draw free from his fountain of living water and and I must say, there is nothing so refreshing, absolutely nothing so satisfying and joyful, as the rivers of peace and love that flow from Immanuel’s veins.

ASSURANCE FOR THE FUTURE

2008-11-13T21:13:00.000-08:00

SCRIPTURAL PORTION FROM THE BIBLE : Job 5:19

I was going through some old forgotten books and papers of bygone years, priceless treasures of memories of the lives my grandparents and their children, shared together. A lovely pink card caught my attention and as I opened it, a feeling of ecstasy tingled through me – it was a card that a loving father sent to his daughter far away, across the seas for her first birthday – to me. A single line quote summed up his dreams and wishes for his little girl. “Past mercies are guarantees for the future” - C. H. Spurgeon.

In due time, I moved out from my home, and had to struggle to pull a life together along with studies. Many a times, the springs of faith went dry and the steps faltered. The inner eyes constantly looked above for solace. On a day, when every wistful thought failed human optimism, this verse in Job, came as the refreshing rivulet of water to the parched thirsty soul, as I related it to my Dad’s one liner.

Job was an extraordinarily righteous man, and had found favor in the eyes of the Lord. He is portrayed as one with humility and patience and as a soul who constantly interceded before the throne for himself and those around him. Yet, he had to undergo a painful period of loss, bereavement and illness in his life and during this dreadful period of pain, Job faintly succumbed to impatience as he saw a fading ray of hope. Rattled with the distressed remarks of Job, his friend Eliphaz the Temanite, who had come to comfort him, reminds Job that the God, who afflicts, is also the compassionate one.

Undisputable as it is, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1), yet it is the deepest human desire that our life should be at ease. When panic strikes, we question, and often fail to remember that our Lord has never promised us a de-tour, but only sufficient grace en-route the journey. A Christian, can undoubtedly testify of numerous occasions of the providence of God.

The Christian soul, with rich experiences past, succumbs to a state of anxiousness and discouragement when the winds of trials blows its way and feels that the existing problem is far greater than the ones that it has confronted earlier. We tend to forget all the past mercies and grow anxious about our present and future.

Lesson reinforcement is a methodology used in schools to help students retain the lessons in their long term memory. So is past experiences in the life’s school of learning and it is in no ways different in God’s school. If God has helped us in “six troubles”, then it is for sure that God will make a way for the seventh trouble too. Each new wave of trouble that dashes against our life is to reinforce the saving mercies of our Lord again. Not only is our past deliverances a surety for future mercies, but it is also God’s way of enriching our spirits to reinforce this faith in our fellow believers too. We can only give if we have received. God can use us as vessels of comfort only, if we have experienced divine comfort from above.

So, if the future looks bleak and the clouds are grey, contemplate of the many times that God’s providence was revealed. If He was strong and merciful to help you get through your past, then his past mercies are guarantees of deliverances for your future.

THE WILDERNESS JOURNEY

2008-11-12T02:44:00.000-08:00

SCRIPTURAL PORTION FROM THE BIBLE: Deuteronomy 2: 7

The Israelites were led forty long years through the wilderness, and as they had reached the borders of the Promised Land, Moses bid farewell to the people of Israel and handed over the leadership to Joshua. Moses stood on the side of Jordan, and declared “the Torah” to the Israelites to remind them of God’ providence in their journey from Egypt, and exhort them to remain faithful to God throughout their generations.

The dreary path of the Israelites in the wilderness gives us beautiful lessons of the providence of God; the larger picture of his molding hand working in our lives to prepare us for the eternal destination of Canaan.

Moses reminded the people that they had come through a very great wilderness (v 7: he knoweth they walk through this great wilderness). To the Lord God Almighty, the wilderness was neither great, nor difficult. But for the Israelites who sojourned for forty years, every step that they took posed a potential threat to their lives. It was a place of hopelessness and pain. They had to walk on foot, and it was no easy reckoning, crossing miles across hot sand dunes. And the Lord God knew their difficult walk through the wilderness. He understood the pain and struggle that they had to go through.

The wilderness is a place, where one can easily lose one’s direction, with constantly moving paths and sand dunes. The path was mostly unknown to the Israelites. But the Lord knew how to steer them on their onward journey. The next step was always clearly instructed to them (Deut 2:3 - ye have compassed this… long enough: turn you northward).

Sustenance of life is also very difficult in a desert. Harmful creatures may strike, thieves may plunder and rob, attire may wear off, water and food may run out and storms can arise. But the Lord knew it all. He provided them with everything that they needed for their journey. (Deut 2:7 - blessed…all the works of thy hand…thou hast lacked nothing). All efforts were blessed by the Lord. Many a times, provisions were made before hand, even before the need arose. Hence they had no want for anything.

Deut 2: 7 implies assurance and hope to every believer, who are sojourning to the eternal shores. In our walk of life, we may have to cross dangerous and unknown paths. We will have to walk it ourselves; no one else can do it for us. It may give us mental agony, physical pain and only a fading ray of hope.

But the Lord knows our struggle to traverse the unknown path in front of us. He has directions for every next step prepared beforehand. So we can calmly follow his directions which will surely help us reach our destination.

God has provided and will again provide for our sustenance in our difficult times. Every effort that we take to go through the dreary path, controlled by the will of God, will be blessed.

God was with the Israelites for the forty long years (Deut 2:7, these forty years the Lord has been with thee). His provisions for their prolonged journey were a proof of his presence, not only to the nation of Israel, but also to the surrounding gentile nations.

We can be rest assured that even if we pass through the darkest valley or the deepest sea, the Lord God will be with us, knowing and guiding our future steps, blessing every effort we take and ensuring that we lack nothing for the journey. The presence of the Lord is with us and before us. We will be able to enjoy his presence during the journey and others around us will be able to witness his blessed presence with us.

DWELLING AT CHERITH

2008-11-12T02:04:00.000-08:00

SCRIPTURAL PORTION FROM THE BIBLE: 1 Kings 17: 1-7

Elijah was probably one of the greatest and most zealous of the prophets in Israel from his rare and brief appearances to his unprecedented courage and fierce fury to slaughter the prophets of Baal. We know very little of his call or his parentage except for the statement “Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead.” He first appears in the Bible in the encounter with King Ahab, to declare his very first prophecy that there will be no dew, nor rain, but according to his word.

This prophecy was no sudden revelation to Elijah. God had been preparing Elijah in secret in Gilead, which means “the hill of testimony” After making his first appearance, God instructed him to turn eastward and hide by the brook Cherith, which means “a separation, a cutting, to destroy”.

After his first prophecy, Elijah would have looked forward to more revelations and more assignments from God. Elijah as an individual was set on bringing back the nation of Israel to the worship of Jehovah. But after the encounter with Ahab, strangely, God had no assignments for him. It was a very abrupt disruption in the ministry of the prophet. God had directed him to the place of separation.

Cherith was a place of protection and provision for Elijah - protection from the wrath of King Ahab and provision during the years of famine. But above all, it was a place of preparation and prayer.

Cherith - A place of protection
King Ahab was ruthless, evil and he “did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (1 Kings 16:33). Instigated by his Phoenician wife, Jezebel to massacre hundreds of prophets of Jehovah, he would have found it but a light thing to kill one prophet who stood in his way. We see that Ahab had been foraging for Elijah by sending Obadiah (governor of Ahab’s house), who says (1 Kings 18:10 “there is no nation or kingdom, whither…hath not sent to seek thee :”) Yet the Lord hid him in Ahab’s dominion itself, and protected him at Cherith, which was actually a place of destruction. God transformed the place of destruction to a place of refuge.

Cherith – A place of provision
Cherith was a source of water, but Elijah needed not only water, but food for his sustenance. God could have devised innumerous ways to feed Elijah. But why the ravens?? The ravens were considered unclean animals. Moreover the ravens fed on flesh, as their main course. It would be most unlikely that they would part with their own food. It was also very unlikely that they would have found bread, since there was a famine in the land. Yet God chose the most unlikely medium for facilitating a meal for Elijah consistently both in the morning and evening. God provided for the Elijah’s needs miraculously and plenteously when the rest of the Israel, was suffering from the drought.

Cherith – A place of preparation
Elijah was called to a place of solitude and here God was going to prepare him for the grueling ministry that lay ahead of him. God first introduced him, and then hid him at brook Cherith to prepare him for his public appearances. It was a place away from human habitation, human help and human acquaintances. He was meant to possess spiritual power that surpassed all his human zeal. If we can relate James 5:17, we see that Elijah prayed for a drought from his own spiritual passion. Although, God permitted his prayer to be answered, God had to bring him to into his presence for using him efficiently and transform him into a powerful instrument. Elijah had to be emptied for God to pour his power on him.

Cherith – A place of prayer
For Elijah, it was a place of uncertainty. The rippling brook which once had an undulating flow was soon thinning down to a silver line. He never knew for sure, if the ravens that brought him his meal in the morning would return in the evening. He was living through faith, and faith triggers prayer. He was also not sure of what task lay ahead of him and he had to wait on the Lord in prayer for the next direction. It was also a time for him to intercede for the nation of Israel, for their sins and idolatry. His extreme hour of need soon came. The brook dried up and ravens stopped coming. He prayed and the direction came. “”Get thee to Zarephath”

For each and every individual, God has planned stopovers at Cherith, in the journey called life. We may be called from a life of public testimony (Gilead) to a life of hidden separation (Cherith). It is here that we realize our inner dryness and rejuvenate our spiritual powers for a more effective ministry. It is a place of total dependence on the living God for all our needs, and it is at Cherith that God proves himself, all-sufficient. It is God’s platform for teaching us the art of prayer and revealing future directions for our onward journey. It is therefore essential for us to savor in the experience of Cherith, where the God of Elijah through his great mercies have lead us thus far and will lead us on home.