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The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.¹

Amidst the many false gods and the surmounting practice of evil, God sends Elijah to Ahab, the husband of Jezebel.² “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”³

After confronting Ahab and warning him of God’s indictment for all the evil he had done, the word of the LORD came to him. Depart from here . . . hide yourself by the brook of Cherith . . . You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.⁴ Wait! After God tells Elijah to confront Ahab, now God tells him to hide—with the assurance that he will drink from the brook (a water source that easily dries up) and be fed by ravens (aren’t they the most selfish, ravenous birds?). Hmm? Where’s the logic, Lord? Yet, observe Elijah’s response. Without hesitation—So he went and did according to the word of the LORD.⁵

How can you discern or spot a Jezebel Spirit? And how are you to respond? They spurn lies and accuse God’s chosen ones.⁶ They know God’s righteous decree; they know that those who practice evil deserve to die; yet they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?”⁸ Notice how Elijah shuts him up. And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.⁹

Next test, now for Elijah and a widow. “Arise, go to Zerephath, . . . Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.¹⁰ Wait a minute! In context, in a male dominant culture where men are the providers, widows have no source of income. Again, Elijah obeys.¹¹ He asks the widow to bring him water to drink; and as she was about to, he added, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”¹² The widow confesses that she was just gathering some sticks to bake their last bread that she and her son may die. Elijah encouraged her to do so but first share a little cake for him. And the widow obliges. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty . . .¹³

God knows our needs. He hears our cry; he sees our heart; he knows our sacrificial giving. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.¹⁴ Yes, there may be a time of pruning and waiting. Trust! God is a covenant keeper. After three years God sends rain.¹⁵

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.¹⁶