Lately, my husband and I have been asking God to “send the ravens.” It’s also a phrase I’m using with some of my friends who are going through a difficult time. Of course, the ravens refer to a moment in 1 Kings 17:2-6 when Elijah must hide in the Kerith Ravine. I imagine his loneliness and hunger. I imagine his fear of Ahab. The Kerith Ravine represents in my mind a place of suffering, sadness, loneliness, or even confusion. But God sends the ravens.
We read this:
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
Sometimes I like to picture the scene in my mind. God didn’t need to send the ravens. We know from the book of Exodus that God can make meat and bread just appear without a delivery vehicle. But here, God uses birds. It seems comforting, delightful, and supernatural. God sends the ravens. The ravens show us God’s care for us, His provision, and His comfort. God commanded; the ravens flew.
When we ask God to “send the ravens” we ask for special care during our time of need. We ask for visible, joyful signs of His marvelous provision to comfort us and meet our needs. And we report back when we have seen the ravens.
Send the ravens!