And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go away from
here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith…
1 Kings 17:2-3
Elijah had just finished telling the king it wouldn’t rain again until he said the word. As the Bible describes it, he walked right in and declared his message, which was given to him by the living God whom he served.
Now what?
It’s not like Elijah had this all planned out, but I’m pretty sure he knew the king would not be happy.
You can read about his bold message to the king here.
Elijah didn’t have to wait: God immediately told him to go to the brook Cherith, a stream in Gilead east of the Jordan River.
Let’s look further at why Elijah went to the brook Cherith and how God protected and provided for him. Plus, we’ll explore what God might have wanted to teach this bold man of God.
Table of Contents
Why Does Elijah Go to the Brook Cherith?
Simply put, Elijah went to the brook Cherith because God told him to go. Elijah trusted that God would care for him there, especially since He told him he would drink water from the brook and ravens would bring him food. It must have been a great relief to hear from the Lord. If God told him to go to the brook, Elijah would obey. Also, God would prepare him for future assignments while he waited.
God Tells Elijah to Go
The word of the Lord came to Elijah, telling him to leave Samaria, go eastward, and hide at the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan.
The Lord was sending Elijah back to Gilead to a brook east of the Jordan River, across from the Jezreel Valley (see Deut 34:1).
We don’t know the exact location of the brook today, but Elijah may have known where it was since he was from Gilead. Or, if not, God surely led him to where it was.
It’s also worth noting that the brook Cherith is sometimes called the Kerith Brook in the Bible, depending on the translation.
According to John Walvoord in the Bible Knowledge Commentary, this brook was “one of many streams that flowed during the rainy season but dried up when the weather turned hot.”
According to J. Hampton Keathley III of Bible.org, in Testings By the Brook (Part 1), “The ‘brook Cherith’ (NASB), or the ‘ravine Kerith’ (NIV), was one of the many waddies or ravines that emptied its waters into the Jordan from the mountains to the east.”
Keathley goes on: ” ‘Cherith’ is the Hebrew kerith that means ‘a cutting,’ a place cut by some type of catastrophe like an earthquake, or more likely, by years of water flowing down from the hills to the Jordan. There were many brooks in this area to which Elijah could have been sent, but only one that was called by this name.”
When God told Elijah to go, he went.
God Protects Elijah
Elijah had to hide because he would soon be hunted. Later, he learns that the king searched “every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end” to find him (1 Kings 18:10).
Of course, King Ahab wasn’t successful and obviously didn’t look at the brook Cherith.
Admittedly, a brook is an unusual place to hide, and most likely, it never occurred to the king that Elijah would go to a place like that.
On the other hand, neither the king nor his men would have looked there because the Lord made sure they didn’t. He protected Elijah from being found.
God Provides for Elijah
When God told Elijah to go to the brook Cherith, He also said, “Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food” (1 Kings 17:4).
Interestingly, ravens are known for neglecting their young (Job 38:41), being unreliable (Gen 8:7), and relying on God to feed them (Lk 12:24). And these are the birds God chose to bring food to Elijah every morning and every night.
God was using both natural and supernatural means to provide for Elijah.
Eventually, though, the brook dried up from a lack of rain, and the Lord sent him to Zarephath. Again, we see God providing for this man of God by changing his location when there was no more water.
RELATED > > > > > Elijah Part 3 – What Happens in Zarephath?
God Teaches Elijah
Although God protected Elijah from Ahab when He sent him to the brook Cherith, what if He had also had another reason for sending him there?
We know the Lord could have kept this man of God safe without hiding him away, as seen later when He directed him to return to the king (1 Kings 18:1).
What if the Lord was using the time and seclusion of this brook to teach Elijah and train him for what was coming?
We don’t know all that was going on in Elijah’s mind while he was in hiding. Still, we do know he was just a man with a nature like ours (Jms 5:17). So, it’s reasonable to conclude that God used this time to teach him.
Waiting is a test. It can be challenging when you have no control over a situation and are forced to rely solely on God.
Elijah had to wait. He had to rely on the Lord for direction, safety, and provision. While at the brook, there was nothing Elijah could do to change what was happening back in Samaria.
Therefore, God was teaching Elijah total reliance on Him.
Additionally, he had lots of time to pray, commune with, and think about the Lord, which is an excellent way to learn reliance.
What We Learn About God in This Story
God is faithful and keeps His promises. He will always do what He says He will do (2 Cor 1:20; Num 23:19; Heb 6:18).
The Lord sent ravens to feed Elijah every morning and evening. He was faithful in keeping his promise to provide food for him.
Furthermore, God was faithful to protect him, and the king did not find him.
God’s plans can not be thwarted by the plans of people. Ahab thought he could find Elijah using his resources, but when God says, “NO, not on My watch,” all the plans and resources in the world make no difference.
What is the most important promise God has made to humans? The promise of eternal life for everyone who believes (Jn 3:16, 36; 6:40).
John is speaking to believers in 1 John 2:25 when he says, “And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.”
Once you have eternal life, you cannot lose it; neither can anyone take it away (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30).
RELATED > > > > > How to Know You Are Going to Heaven
Final Thoughts
God is faithful and keeps His promises to Elijah. He sends him to the brook Cherith to hide from the king, who has just learned that there will be no more rain until Elijah says the word.
At the brook, ravens come morning and evening with bread and meat, which is exactly what the Lord said He would do.
Further, God uses the time at the brook Cherith to teach Elijah trust and reliance on Him.
Our God is a promise-keeper and does what He says He will do. Nothing can thwart His plans.
The implications for us are great, especially concerning salvation. God says, “Whoever believes in Jesus will receive eternal life (Jn 3:16), and nothing can snatch them out of His hand (Jn 10:28).
Have you received eternal life? In other words, do you know you will go to heaven when you die?
Lynn,
I’ve always enjoyed reading this biblical account of Elijah at the brook Cherith. It is very comforting to read of God’s care for his servant through provision, protection, and preparation. Elijah was very discouraged, coming down from the high of defeating Ahab’s prophets and now he was facing Jezebel’s wrath. After God fed him and gave him rest, He told him he was not alone, and then told him what His plans were. What a great God!
– Scott
Scott,
Thank you for your comment. The biblical account of Elijah is a fascinating story. Elijah was indeed discouraged after he defeated the prophets of Baal and faced Jezebel’s wrath.
Although the brook Cherith was before that happened, I believe God used that time to get Elijah ready for the big showdown as well as his time with the widow in Zarephath. God’s care for Elijah throughout, whether for provision, protection, or comfort, is a lesson for all of us. It’s always good for us to remember how great our God is!
Lynn