Dirty-bird blessings. That’s what Elijah received from God. Elijah told King Ahab that there wouldn’t be any rain in the land for a long time. God then directed Elijah to go to the brook Cherith, where he would drink water from the brook, and ravens would bring him bread and meat in the mornings and evenings.
So, Elijah headed for the brook. He didn’t turn his nose up to the delivery service. He didn’t balk at the idea of a disgusting, dirty bird serving him his food, nor did he start scavenging for his own food. Elijah lived in that season of being supported by a dirty-bird blessing. The ravens were the vehicle God chose to get the provision to Elijah. Had he turned his nose up to the mechanism used to bring him sustenance, he would have starved to death!
I wonder how often we miss what God has for us because of how it’s packaged! Dirty-bird blessings sometimes come in various shapes and sizes, such as a job you hate, a car on its last leg, or challenging life schedules. Whatever the make and model of your vehicle, know that God is using that person, thing, place, time, season, etc., to sustain you until He gives you the next direction. God blessed Elijah to be willing to work with a dirty-bird blessing.
Even in harsh times, God still gives His children help. It may not look the best or feel the best, but the point is God is sustaining you, even if it is through a dirty-bird blessing.
Kings 17:5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)