Character Profile: Elijah's Courage, Part 3
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.' - 1 Kings 17:8-9 (NKJV)
Another component of Elijah's courage was his childlike trust. When God told him to do something, he didn't hem and haw like so many others in Scripture. Elijah simply trusted the word of his heavenly Father, even when it didn't make much sense to the natural mind.
The verses above provide us with a prime example of this. God told the prophet to do something that seemed outrageous. He was to go to Zarephath so that a widow could provide for his needs there. For one thing, it was unheard of for a woman to provide for the needs of a man. In that culture, the men took care of themselves, and so God's command went against the natural grain from the get go. It's also significant that this woman was from Zarephath, which meant she was a Gentile.
It was huge stretch for any Jew (especially a man who would become one of the most prestigious prophets in Israel's history) to spend time with a Gentile. To top it off, this Gentile woman was a widow! In those days, a widow was at an economic disadvantage. Without a husband, widows were likely to be forced to depend on the charity of others as they grew older and less capable of performing physical tasks. On all three counts, God's command doesn't seem to make sense. This should have been the last person to turn to for help. That didn't stop Elijah. He obeyed because his trust was childlike in nature.
From time to time, God will tell us to do things outside of the box that take a little courage. It may seem a bit strange at first, but hasn't our Divine Dad proven that He's worthy of our childlike trust? Why then, do we so rarely exercise it? Lord, help us to trust you as you deserve.
'Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.' (Luke 18:17 NKJV)
DIG - What quality of Elijah's trust should we emulate?
DISCOVER - When was the last time God told you to do something 'outside of the box'? What did you do?
DISPLAY - Pray that the Lord will give you a more childlike heart toward Him.
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At the age of 24, Bob Coy left a coveted position in the music industry to serve as an associate pastor with Calvary Chapel of Las Vegas. In 1985, Bob and his wife, Diane, moved to Fort Lauderdale and began Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale. As senior pastor, he has become well known for his unique style in expounding the Scriptures, making them come alive and relate to those of us living in the 21st century. His teaching style emphasizes the believer's "life application" of the highest standards of God's truth while his delivery captures the loving heart of God's Spirit.
Pastor Bob has had the rare privilege of watching God's miraculous hand move in the individual lives of those in the fellowship as well as the corporate body as a whole. From the first meeting in a living room with four in attendance, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale has now become home to over 17,000 men and women from the tri-county area, and ranks as the eighth largest church in the country. Though many have tried to attribute its rapid growth to numerous reasons, no one is more surprised by the phenomenon than Pastor Bob, who gives total credit and all the glory to God alone.
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