Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith” … So he went and did according to the word of the Lord … Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there” … So he arose and went to Zarephath … And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab” … So Elijah went. 1 Kings 17:2–3, 5, 8–10; 18:1–2 NKJV
Elijah comes on the scene during one of the darkest chapters in Israel’s history. Ahab was king, and, together with his wife Jezebel, he did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings before him. The spiritual decline in Israel was the result of this disobedience. At such a time, God raised up the prophet Elijah.
It is encouraging to read repeatedly that the prophet Elijah obeyed the word of the Lord. Obedience is the characteristic feature of a true servant. Elijah did not question the message or the timing. The God of Israel, before whom he stood, had spoken—and that was enough for him. Moreover, because of his obedience to what God had commanded, the words that Elijah addressed to the people carried moral weight, for God was with him.
Inseparably linked with obedience is dependence. Elijah experienced the consequences of the judgment that he had announced—those three years of drought were on the way. Elijah would be directly affected by the resulting famine, but, without question, he could depend on the God of Israel to sustain him. It was for him a walk of faith. For us too, our walk through this wilderness is a walk of faith. Let us keep our eyes upon Him. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).