The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-01-07

some remote and deep ravine, empty
ing its wet-weather torrent into the
Jordan; and there, in its solitude
and shadows, God covered the pro-
phet with "the shadow of His
wings" There Elijah drank of the
lessening brook, and there ravens,
at Gods command, brought "bread
and flesh in the morning, and bread
and flesh in the evening"" There
was morning and an evening meal,
no more and no less. No more and
he lived by faith in Gods gift of
his daily bread. No less; and he
lacked nothing all through the time
of famine. There was no super
abundance and no dainties. He
was not used to them. God gave
him bread and water; what needed
he more? And the food came not
from the parched earth, nor from
the skies, nor by the hand of man,
nor by any thought or toll of the
prophet, but in such way as made
it more evidently the gift of Gods
care. Ravens strangely came on
black-wing and laid down at his
feet the provision of the heavenly
Father. He giveth food to the
young ravens which cry"
"And He who feeds the ravens,
Will give His children bread"
III. At Zarephath. When the
brook failed in the great drought,
Gods resources had not failed. No
doubt the water trickled down the
rocky gorge, out of shady, wooded
hooks, long after water was hard to
find in the open lands of Israel.
But when it was utterly gone, no
miracle was wrought to fill the
banks of Cherith. 81 have com
manded widow woman to sustain
thee" Upon the little town of Ia
rephath famine had laid its with
cred and whitening hand. When
the prophet came, sure enough there
was the widow woman at the gate,
gathering sticks of wood. She was
in dire extremity. In utter despair
she purposed to use the handful of
meal and the little oil in the cruise,
the very last of her living, for her
self and her boy, and then, like a
multitude of others, to lie down and
die. But God has better things for
her. First, the prophet asked for
water, and when she showed her
willingness to share with him, he
asked also for ga morsel of bread"
When she told her story of extremi-
ty and despair, Elijah did not relax
his hold upon her service. Had not
God sent him? 1t must be Just and
good Gear not" he said encour-
agingly; yet he babe her make first
the cake and bring it to him, and
then make for herself and her son.
1t was a great trial of her faith in
Gods care and love Trusting the
promise implied, the woman, in her
extremity, and the yearnings of a
mothers love, yet obeyed. She gave
the very last she had at Gods bid
ding; "all her living" like another
widow whom Jesus saw long after
wards steal up to the treasury with
her two mites.
She was abundantly rewarded.
The meal wasted not, the cruise of
oil failed not, according to the word
of the Lord, which He spake by Eli
iah." And the woman and her boy,
and her house and the prophet were
fed, unfailingly, while all the land
suffered and went crying for bread.
" 1t may not be my way,
1t may not be thy way
And yet in His own way, the Lord will
provide"
A grand thing it is to be a servant
of the living God, and stand before
Him to do his bidding, and then to
be secure in His power and love. A
hiding place which God has pre-
pared, His children have i'm Him
who is "the Rock that is higher
than l.
"Rock Of ages cleft for me.
Let me hide myself in Thee"
Whether brought by ravens, or
found daily in the bottom of the
barrel, or won by labor, or bought
with money, our bread is Gods gift
day by day. To Him with trustful,
patient hearts we are asked to come.
GIVE us this day our daily bread"
Our part i'm life is simple obedi-
ence God Will attend to the rest
All Gods blessings are ON the path
way of steadfast duty.
"IIow gentle Gods commands,
How kind His precepts are