By Autumn Nims
“Then the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.” 1 Kings 17:2-3
Today, as I read 1 Kings 17, I couldn’t help but reflect on Elijah’s powerful proclamation to withhold rain. To fully understand its significance, I looked back at chapter 16, where a troubling pattern emerges: kings turning away from the one true God to serve Baal and Asherah. God’s righteous judgment follows each time—kings are repeatedly dethroned. Then came Ahab, who led Israel further into depravity by marrying Jezebel, who promoted the worship of Baal and set up Asherah poles, blending false gods with the worship of Israel’s God. This deception misled the people—a continual pattern of falsehood that should make us all stop and think.
As leaders, we must guard our relationship with the Lord fiercely—through prayer and the Word—lest we become instruments of deception ourselves. God finds this detestable. That’s why He sent Elijah to pronounce judgment: no rain and a devastating drought. Elijah prayed fervently, and God responded, demonstrating His sovereignty over nature. Baal was supposed to control the weather, but the true God showed who truly rules the heavens.
Elijah’s prayer shut up the heavens, and the land suffered. Then God commanded Elijah to go to the brook Cherith—meaning “cut off.” This resonates deeply. As someone called to the mission field with 15 years of service, I understand the weight of being “sent away”—cut off from comfort and the familiar. Yet, this is exactly where God reveals Himself as our Provider—feeding Elijah through ravens and water from the brook. Sometimes, God takes us to a wilderness place—not as punishment, but to strengthen and prepare us for what’s next.
This past weekend, the Lord sent me away, so to speak. With His still small voice, He asked me for three 30-day periods—90 days to step back and focus on Him. Currently, my goal is to dedicate the 90 days He has asked for. I am praying into this truth, seeking God as Jehovah Jireh—the Provider—for a permanent place for our IWM sewing center. IWM is drinking from the brook and being fed by the ravens – The Lord has brought us this far! I don’t know how He will do it, but if He fed a prophet through ravens and sustained him during a drought, surely He can open doors for us. Jeremiah 33:3 promises that He will reveal unsearchable, great things we do not know if we call upon Him. I believe He will. Elijah never questioned the provision at Cherith; when it dried up, he moved on, trusting God to provide again. We must be ready—when one provision ends, another begins. Being sent away after a miraculous victory is tough, but it’s part of God’s divine plan to grow our faith.
Leaders, I urge you: embrace these moments of sendings. They are not punishments but opportunities for God to empower us further. Trust Him. Believe that He will make a way for your vision and calling just as He provides in the wilderness. Engage in prayer, stand firm, and keep your eyes on the One who holds all provision in His hands. The next chapter of your journey may be in the wilderness or on a mountaintop; either way, God is preparing you for the greatness He has in store.
