“The Word of the Lord came to Elijah saying, ‘Get hence and turn eastward and hide by the Brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.'” (I Kings 17:3).

There are seasons to life in the Lord. Seasons of great work and mission, seasons of rest and refreshing, seasons of trouble and distress, and seasons of hiding out in God. Elijah was in that fourth season, hiding out in God.

Elijah had just confronted the King, Ahab, and announced, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain three years, but according to my word” (I Kings 17:1b).

Sometimes God euphomistically “paints us into a corner” whereby we suffer the same fate as everyone else by the prophetic word we spoke. We are not exempt from but are rather brought under the same conditions others are experiencing which conditions we created by the mouth of the Lord. We cannot escape it, or run from it, less we error or stray from the will of God ourselves. The Prophet, Elijah, found himself in such conditions as he experienced living by the brook.

Living By The Brook is a hiding place, a place of protection from our enemies, from those who seek to do us harm. But, alas, God has us covered. “It shall be that you shall drink of the Brook and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there” (I Kings 17:4).

Elijah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to the Brook and dwelt there. “And the ravens brought him bread, and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the Brook” (I Kings 17:6).

We can only imagine a day in the life of Elijah during this time. Alone, in the solitude of the Spirit, Elijah communed with the Lord daily. He drank from the Brook and was fed bread and meat from the King’s table. No public activity, no crowds of faithful followers, no meetings, conferences, revivals and missions. Just alone, living by the Brook in communion with the heart of the Father, under His provision, protection and favor.

Living by the Brook is not a permanent condiion. It is a season. It will come to an end, as it did for Elijah: “And it came to pass after a while the Brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land” (I Kings 17:7). It was now time to move on by the word of the Lord.

Brethren, in what season are you now living? If perchance you are Living by the Brook be encouraged. Take advantage of all that the Lord has for you in this time. Be enriched in communion with Him, be grateful for His provision, His protection and love. Enjoy His blessings and favor. At just the right time He will let you know when it is time to move on to your Zarephath in Zidon, to the one He has commanded to sustain you there.

Whether Prophet or saint, we all live by faith and that faith is given by the Word of the Lord. Be listening, obey what you hear, go where He sends you, whether for a long time or short season, it is all as He wills, purposes and plans. Our lives are not our own, we belong to the Lord.

For now, living by the Brook is a season to enjoy being in His Presence and in communion with Him.

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