Breakfast by Bird

Read

1 Kings 17:5-6 “So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.”

Think

Has your family ever ordered food to be delivered? You tap a few buttons, wait a little while, and then, “Ding dong!” Someone shows up at your door with a warm pizza. It's pretty great.

Now imagine this. You hear a flapping sound. You look up, and a big black bird swoops down and drops a sandwich in your lap.

That sounds silly, right? But that is pretty much what happened to Elijah!

Elijah did exactly what God told him. He went to the ravine and camped out by the brook. There was no house. There was no grocery store. There was no kitchen.

So how did he eat? God sent ravens. Ravens are big black birds, kind of like crows. Every morning, the ravens flew in with bread and meat. Every evening, they came back with more! And whenever Elijah got thirsty, he drank from the brook.

Here's something funny about ravens. They usually grab food for themselves. They are much more likely to steal your sandwich than bring you one! But God told the ravens what to do, and they did it.

That shows us something big. God can use anything to take care of his people. Even birds. Even surprising, unexpected things.

Before we move on, notice what Elijah did first. The Bible says he did what the Lord told him. Elijah went to the ravine before he ever saw a single raven. He obeyed first, trusting that God would come through.

God takes care of you in lots of ways too. Some are easy to notice, like when your mom or dad packs your lunch. Maybe they even slip in a note that says, “Have a great day!” That's God taking care of you through them.

Some are harder to notice. Think of the doctor who helps you get well, or a friend who shows up right when you need one.

Every good thing you have is a gift from God. The food on your plate. The bed you sleep in. The people who love you.

So today, keep your eyes open for “ravens.” Look for all the surprising ways God is taking care of you.

Apply

Spot your ravens – Tonight at dinner, look at your food and think about all the people who helped it get to your plate. Thank God for taking care of you through them.

Pray

God, thank you for taking care of Elijah, and thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for my food, my home, and the people who love me. Help me notice all the ways you provide. In Jesus' name. Amen.