Every morning, even before the sun rises in the sky, as I open my door for a morning walk in our corridor, just above my head I hear a sound of flapping wings and a caw caw to invite my attention. They have a nest on our coconut tree in the yard.
These scavengers feast over the garbages and trash bins across the street corners.
These black birds are the type species of Ravens found in the story of Elijah.
In Leviticus 11:15 even though the raven is listed as an abomination among birds, it is interesting to find that God chose to use these scavengers of decaying matter to assist Him in doing a special catering service for His servant Elijah.
I took a moment to put myself in Elijah’s place, a person whose daily food supply was based on a catering service of ravens. On our terrace even if I find a small bone dropped by a crow, I pour disinfectant and clean the place! Imagine me eating a piece of meat brought by this scavenger bird!!!!
Why ravens? They are birds of prey, unclean creatures, yet the ravens were faithful to Elijah. They feed on decayed meat, yet they brought the meat to Elijah.
I took a teachable moment to myself. As the Psalmist says ‘Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (Psalm 155: 6) I would like to add, even when it means that our catering service just happens to be an unclean raven. He can make use of whatever He needs!
As Paul writes (Phil: 4:19) ‘But my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’. And I would like to add, even when the bearer of God’s gifts come from an unexpected source or from something we think is unclean.
This story encouraged me to trust God to care of my needs, no matter how small and insignificant or how large and overwhelming the need is!
I have heard of young people losing their jobs due to present Covid situation! If you are one of them please be encouraged! And never doubt our God, for at the right moment, His provisions and help will arrive to surprise us by an unexpected source like a raven! Then why do you fear? Trust Him today for all your needs!
Prema's Tamil Bible Study & Devotions 