Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Kings 17:1-7

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of Jehovah; for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land." — 1 Kings 17:1-7 (ASV)

God wonderfully equips people for the work He designs them for. The times were suited for an Elijah; an Elijah was suited for them. The Spirit of the Lord knows how to prepare people for the occasions. Elijah let Ahab know that God was displeased with the idolaters and would discipline them by a lack of rain, which it was not in the power of the gods they served to bestow.

Elijah was commanded to hide himself. If Providence calls us to solitude and retirement, it is fitting for us to go: when we cannot be useful, we must be patient; and when we cannot work for God, we must sit still quietly for Him. The ravens were appointed to bring him food, and did so. Let those who live from hand to mouth learn to depend on Providence and trust it for the bread of the day, in the day.

God could have sent angels to minister to him; but He chose to show that He can serve His own purposes by the humblest creatures, as effectively as by the mightiest. Elijah seems to have continued this way for over a year. The natural supply of water, which came by common providence, failed; but the miraculous supply of food, assured to him by promise, did not fail. If the heavens fail, the earth fails as a consequence; such are all our earthly comforts: we lose them when we most need them, like brooks in summer.

But there is a river that makes glad the city of God, that never runs dry, a well of water that springs up to eternal life. Lord, give us that living water! (1 Kings 17:8–16)