“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.” – 1 Kings 17:3–4 (NIV)
Sometimes God’s favour doesn’t lead you to abundance right away, it leads you to a place of dependence. Elijah had just delivered a word of drought to King Ahab, and now the same drought would affect him too. Yet God already had a plan. He told Elijah to go to the Kerith Brook, a hidden place, where He would provide water from the stream and food from ravens.
That command didn’t make much sense. Ravens were considered unclean birds, and a brook during drought seemed unreliable. But God’s favour often flows through unexpected channels. When one source dries up, He already has another in motion. The key is obedience, staying where God tells you to stay and trusting how He chooses to sustain you.
When the brook later dried up, Elijah didn’t panic; he waited for the next instruction. And God sent him to the widow of Zarephath, where the oil and flour never ran out (1 Kings 17:7–16). The same God who fed him by ravens now used a poor widow to keep him alive. That’s the rhythm of divine favour — it never stops; it simply shifts location.
In your own life, maybe a job, relationship, or opportunity that once sustained you has suddenly dried up. Don’t assume God has abandoned you. The drying brook is not the end; it’s the signal that your next provision is waiting elsewhere. Favour doesn’t die with one season; it simply takes on a new form.
God’s provision is not limited to familiar places or predictable means. He is creative with His care. The ravens still obey His command, and hidden streams still flow for those who trust His timing. When visible doors close, look for the hidden flow. It may not look like what you expected, but it will be exactly what you need.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for being my unfailing source. Even when visible streams dry up, help me to trust that You have already prepared another. Teach me to rest in Your direction and to see provision where others see emptiness. Lead me to the hidden stream of Your favour and sustain me there until my next assignment comes. Amen.
