The guiding God is essential in a world with many paths to choose. But which is the right one? As we follow the Lord, He knows best how to guide our lives. Not long after Elijah became a prophet, he confronted Ahab, the King of Israel, who worshiped the false god Baal. He told him there would be no rain until he said so.
Those who worshipped Baal believed he was the god who brought the rains and bountiful harvests. When God stopped the rain, He proved Baal was a false god. King Ahab blamed Elijah for the drought, so the Lord protected him by telling him to camp along the Kerith Brook east of the Jordan. The Lord brought ravens with bread and meat to feed him there, and he drank from the brook. As the brook dried up, the Lord sent Elijah to Zarephath.
The Lord’s Guiding Hand
1 Kings 17:8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. [1] Although the Lord can guide us, it does little good if we don’t follow His leading. Trusting God, Elijah obeyed the Lord.
The problems of life can seem bewildering. We can feel alone and powerless as we wrestle with the decisions we must make, both major and minor. How can we know God’s will, like Elijah? As we face choices, God’s word assures us He wants us to seek Him and turn to Him for the guidance we need. Then, we need to trust the guidance He has given us. As we grow in a relationship with God, hearing His voice and trusting His direction becomes easier. It may not have made sense to Elijah to travel to Zarephath, but he did not question God.
Moving Forward in Faith
God’s word tells us that He promises to guide us with the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is somewhat like a traffic light, giving us a sense of stopping, caution, or proceeding. When we have peace from the Holy Spirit, we know we are heading in the right direction.
Elijah went to Zarephath amid drought, trusting the Lord would direct him to the proper widow who would provide for him. What a faith builder this must have been for Elijah when he met the right woman, and she provided just as the Lord said.
The same God that guided Elijah is also interested in you and will guide and shape your life if you invite Him to do so. As we do, we are blessed and can also bless others. To learn more about the guiding God, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/elijah-and-the-widow
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (1 Ki 17:8–10). Tyndale House Publishers.