No matter what your eyes and ears tell you, trust what God told you
by Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, The Christian Broadcasting Network
Elijah was a bold prophet with much faith. He told a wicked king, “There shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1).
Knowing he could be killed, Elijah was probably thankful when God said, “Get away from here and … hide by the Brook Cherith” (v. 3). There God fed him with food from ravens and water from the brook—until it dried up for lack of rain.
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Has that ever happened in your life? Your job or bank account dries up. Why does God let this happen? I believe it is so we don’t become dependent on the brook or the raven, but depend on God.
Elijah remained there until God told him to leave Israel and go to Zarephath: “See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you” (v. 9).
Perhaps Elijah thought she would be wealthy. When he asked her for water and bread, however, her response was quite dramatic: “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die” (v. 12).
If you were Elijah, and a poor widow says she and her son are about to starve, what would you do? You might say, “I thought I heard from God, but I’ll go find something else.” Yet Elijah said, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son” (v. 13).
That is bold faith! No matter what your eyes and ears tell you, trust what God told you. Elijah said, “The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry” (v. 14). God had prepared that widow to receive Elijah (v. 9), and as she obeyed, God miraculously provided.
When I first went to Manila in 1994, I had a great vision that God would send missionaries from the Philippines into all the world. I was invited to speak at a small Pentecostal church of about 50 people. They met in an auto repair shop with big mechanics’ pits in the concrete floor. After I shared the vision, the pastor said, “God just spoke to me; we are supposed to give the very first offering for this mission center.”
This tiny church that couldn’t afford a building took an offering of 5,000 pesos—about $200—what some of those people would earn in a month or two. And they gave it to start a center for missions.
So, if you feel discouraged, remember the promise in Galatians 6:9: And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Then get ready for a breakthrough—because what God says, He will do!
Scripture is quoted from the NKJV. This teaching was given during a CBN staff chapel meeting.
