Keep Looking

Keep looking.

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This chapter is a dynamic tapestry of action. It presents a radical confrontation between Truth and Lies, God and man, a solitary prophet against a mob of false prophets—one Godly man standing firm against the nation of Israel.

Our beloved hero, Elijah, displayed a series of remarkable actions driven by a holy curiosity. He was constantly scanning the horizon, "keep looking" for God’s signals, guidance, warnings, answers, and prompts for the season. His life was defined by a persistent search for ways to partner and collaborate with the Lord.

The chapter opens with Elijah ending the 3.5-year drought, but to get there, we must understand his journey. After the dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel and the slaughter of the false prophets, Jezebel threatened his life, sending him fleeing from Jezreel. But God had been guiding him all along. Earlier, during the drought, God had directed him to the Kerith Ravine, where he was miraculously sustained—you could say food was "Ubered" in by ravens. That was one season of hiding and provision.

However, he kept looking for guidance. It's wonderful to see how God’s goodness manifests differently in each season. One moment, He uses birds and a remote ravine; in the next, He instructs Elijah to travel to Zarephath to meet a widow. There, God orchestrated a mutually beneficial miracle—a handful of flour and a jug of oil sustained the widow, her son, and Elijah for a significant time.

Then comes a fascinating twist. God decided it was time to end Elijah’s hiding and instructed him to present himself to Ahab. The conversation between Elijah and Obadiah is filled with insight, revealing that both men were committed to seeking opportunities to be helpful, supportive, and protective of God’s people.

Verse 41 is particularly striking: Elijah tells Ahab to hurry back because a heavy rain is on its way—even though there was no physical sign of it yet. Elijah then retreated to the top of Mount Carmel, bent low on the ground with his face between his knees, praying. Praying is the birthing place of the miracle. He kept looking for the fulfillment of God's promise, commanding his servant seven times to go and look toward the sea. He didn't stop after six times; he persevered until the seventh report brought the news of a small cloud, the size of a man's fist, signaling the coming downpour.

We must continually trust the Lord. Only through such trust can we live out the "keep looking" mentality that Elijah modeled. He trusted God when told to reveal himself, to stay put, to meet a widow, to challenge a king, to pray for fire, to call for repentance, to engage in the hard work of slaughter, and finally, to outrun Ahab's chariot to Jezreel.

Elijah simply kept looking for Yahweh. And because of that, God used him mightily. He provided, protected, arranged, met needs, and guided both the prophet and the nation. This is the profound truth: one person can bring transformation when they continually look to Him to guide their footsteps, their paths, and their very lifestyle.

Prayer

Father God, we love You for Your guidance in the dry seasons, and we thank You that You also choose to use us to bring those dry seasons to an end. Thank You for arranging caring individuals along our path and inviting us to take part in a bigger story of revival and transformation. Thank You for the plan to challenge, win, and prove that You are the God who answers by fire, and for always extending another chance for repentance. Thank You for revealing Your will before it happens, so that our curiosity to "keep looking" for You never ends. We will continually trust You and Your greatness to guide our lifestyle. May we experience the showers of rain in our paths today, in this month, so that we can make the difference You have intended for our lives, just as You did in Elijah's. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Shabbat Shalom, from Kent, London.

God Bless Israel and Us.

Have a good weekend.

In His Grip,