A Spot With Your Name on It

Read

1 Kings 17:1-4 “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.’ Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: ‘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.’”

Think

Imagine it's your very first time at summer camp. On the bus ride there, you start to worry. Where will I sleep? Will anyone know my name? Will there even be room for me?

Then you walk into your cabin, and there it is. A bunk with a sign taped to it. Your name, written in big marker letters. Someone knew you were coming. Someone got a spot ready just for you.

Elijah was about to find out that God had a spot ready for him too.

Elijah was a prophet. A prophet is someone who gives people messages from God. Back then, the king of Israel was a man named Ahab. Ahab did not follow God, and he led lots of other people away from God too.

So God gave Elijah a big, bold message for the king. There would be no rain. Not even dew on the grass in the morning. Not for years, until God said so.

Can you imagine walking up to a king and saying that? Elijah was brave! He knew the king would be angry.

Right after that, God told Elijah, “Leave here. Go hide in the Kerith Ravine.” A ravine is like a deep valley between hills. God said there would be a brook there for water. And God said he had already arranged food for Elijah. Wait until tomorrow to find out how the food showed up. It's pretty wild!

Notice something. God did not send Elijah out and then say, “Good luck! Figure it out.” Before Elijah even left, God already had the place picked out. He had the water ready. He had the food planned.

God takes care of the people who follow him. He thinks ahead. He gets things ready before we even get there.

Maybe you are heading into something new soon. A new class, a new team, a new house, or a new neighborhood. You might wonder, “Will there be a place for me?”

Here's what Elijah's story tells you. God is already there. He knows you're coming. And he has a place for you, just like that bunk with your name on it.

God's got it, before you even walk in the door.

Apply

Thank God ahead – Think of something coming up this week that feels new or unknown. Thank God right now that he is already there, getting things ready for you.

Pray

God, thank you for thinking ahead for me. Thank you that you are already in every place I'm going. Help me trust you when things feel new. In Jesus' name. Amen.