The National tribune., 1891-01-08

select the inaEspicate, hated, vicious-looking
harsh-Yo.ccd raven2 God commanded the
ravens. They understand the Almighty. lie
knows them better than did Audubon. They
can understand him better than they could
even their old friend Thoreau. Where did the
ravens get the food suitable for Elijah? Who
loaded their beaks? Many questions can bo
asked-mOre than can be answered. We may
be sure God was equal 20 the peculiar difficult
ties Would Elijah eat food received from a
bird ceremonially unclean? We recall Gods
words to st. Peter. lActs, 10; 9I5.) We can
spend time more proftably than in mere specu-
lations. The transaction was miracle.
5. References.
Verse . Eord Of Lord cqme. 70: %: 1850;
Ch., L.; 8; Jer., z; l IL ISL Hos, I, 2
Verse 3. Hide se,C p % Ps, 81 {: 20; sc 3;
Jer., 80 10, 20; st. John, 5 50; Acts, II IA;
Heb, SO; Rev, Il; g. n.
Verso 4. RareHs feed thee. Job, IS 81; Ps.,
HI:9 Compare widows meal and oil. verses
S-lj; the furnishing by an angel OF cakes and
water, 10: So; the mamma. Ex rs 3J: water
from a rock. M, 20:5; drink for Samson. judi,
15: Is. 10 bread for the Prophet jeremiah,
Jer.. 1872 feeding OF the 5000, St. Mt,
II: 1921; of the 1000, Is: 30 80
Verse 5. Elijah did as ordered. 1879; Cen,
6 -; 49, - g; ? Ch.. % 20; Prov, 3:5,
8; St. Mat, 1873 1924: st. Mark, Il 70;
St. John, Is II; Ro., 4 10 20; Heb. 1I:7, 8,
II.
verse6. Brought bread and flesh. Ex., 16 u.
10; Ps, IS; TO-
Verse Z. Brook dried uD, but a way was pro-
vided. Is, 40; 30, 81; Al: II; 81: 10; Heb,
1876
6. Suggestions
/. 10 is right 20 protect our lives in times Of
danger by conccaling our persons God told
EIfiai and hido hffrt-oTf Il
for the purpose Of throwing evil persons Off
their track when pursuing you If you be limo
cent, Is Unsuitable. God has furnished the
lower animals with power % mislead pursuers
?. Flesh may be- used for food Man seems
by nature, judging from the history Of the
human race. and even from the permissible bill
Of fare furnished BY our Creator 10 be at least
partly zOOphagOus. Many however, coRscien-
tiously think that any tendency toward sarco-
phagy is wrong and was simply allowed Of God
under protest. One fact is certain, the food
furnished Elijah was both vegetable and car
neOus. And human teeth are enough serrate
to utilize such food.
J. Expect only daily supplies. Keep up n
constant dependence on God. Offer each day
the Lords Prayer.
4. Expect extremes. Brooks dry up. throw
ing one on new dependencies. Thus faith is
severely tested.
D. Let food be plain. Ravens did not bring
dainties to Elijah but bread aud meat, the
substantials Of life, most healthful.
III. ELIJAH SUPPLIED BY THE WIDOW OF
ZlREPHATH.
1. Data.
Hi, II: 6-16
2. Time
We move on about six months We suppose
Elijah remained at Cherith for about one-haIf
year. The history Of mountain stream sug-
gests the duration Of his stay in the wady.
3. Place.
Zarephath is between Tyre and Sidon. It is
nearer to Sidon than to Tyre. So v. saws.
belongeth 20 Zdon tSidOn). It was nine miles
south Of Sidon. In the New Testament, St.
Luke, a %, il is printed Sarepta. The present
name is Sarphan. Ii is also called Surafend and
Serafend. The distance from Cherith to Zarep-
hath was about 40 miles. ZareDhath was
just south Of Mt. Carmel. There are ruins
there now. A few houses are on the hills
about.
L. Suggestions
l. Read the Bible Be able to quote from
the Old Testament Jesus cited the case of
the widow Of Zarephath as an illustration.
Isl. Luke, 4: p, 26l We can often bring for
ward Old Testament historic eases and urge
them for modern Christian imititiOn. A good
old lady used to say Of her Bible that it was
her barrel and cruise and declare it furnished
her with daily supplies Of the " Bread Of Life"
2 Obey God. Elijah was commanded to
leave Samaria and 90 20 Chcritb, and he did so.
Again. God babe him leave Cherith and go to
Zarephath, and at once he is on the road
Obey, even If you cannot sea the reason Of the
order. Obey, even If you see many obstacles
and objections. YOu will find ravens at Che
rith. and bread and oil at the widows house.
q BE hospitable. lRo., II: -; Titus, LIS;
l Pet, 4:9.l Love to entertain. Do not be
grudging in your reception Of company. Ac-
eording to your ability, or according to the
needs Of guest be liberal
A. DO not fear to give. You will not lose in
the end. Even ravens may reach a point
whore they forget their own nervousness.
Invest with God by kind deeds. Practice self
denial for others and you viii not be losers.
1t is safe to lend to God. What you do to the
least OF Christs followers you do to or for God.
and God has a good memory and an ample
treasury, and is always true and equal to his
promises.
3. Let God have the first fruits Of your offer
ings. Elijah directed the widow 90 give some
cake TO him FIRST When we have money, we
ought not to pay everybody else before we do
God; give TO every other purpose before we do
TO the church; satisfy ourselves first, and if
anything be left, east some Of it into Gods
treasury. Our moneys would all 90 further it,
some sacred purpose.
8. Rely on Gods threats and promises. Rain
and famine come. if he say so. Ravens will
feed you, if God tell you to trust them. Meal
and oil hold out for years, if God promise you
such support.
Z. See the office of faith Elijah trusted his
character on Gods threat of drought; he fully
believed the ravens would circle around him
and spread a table for him in the wilderness;
he had such confidence in Gods promise that
be told the widow she might live many months
on food too little TO satisfy for single meal for
one person. Says SHAKESPEARE in Measure for
Measure:
"Our doubts are traitors
And make US lose the good we Oft might win,
BY fearing to attempt
1t is shame to Christianity that j. J. Jen-
kins can say
Faith hath a less lively illustration I'm the
churches than in the drug stores where patent
medicines sold"
g. Depend on God. We can never reach ex-
tremes beyond his power to aid. You are in
great danger as to life; he can direct TO ravine
OF TO q Zarephath. Without the ordinary pro-
cess by which grain grows, he can increase your
meal. By his blessing a small earthen jar of
OIL with its narrow necked spout, is as good as