Today’s message in our series Provision was called “Provision in the Famine” from I Kings 17:1-7.    The word famine can be replaced with word “recession” to give us a more contemporary reading.  Here is the outline:

1.  Famine challenges which “god” or GOD to trust

Significantly, Elijah means “The Lord Is My God.”

Elijah’s announcement that dew and rain would end was a direct challenge to Baal, the Canaanite god of storm and rain and good crops.

¹³ “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” – Luke 16:13 (NKJV)

“Mammon” is the Aramaic word for “wealth”

2.  Famine changes the old rules

God arranged for provisions to be flown in to Elijah by ravens, birds that were unclean (Leviticus 15) and could not be eaten

Twice a day he received a meal of bread and meat from an unclean bird

The Lord of all creation may use any means He wishes to feed His prophet, even the ravens.

3.  Famine points us to the Provider, not the provision

Be sure to trust the Provider and not the provision. Brooks dry up, but God never fails.