Waiting by the Brook: Learning to Wait Patiently on GodSample

A Prophet in Waiting

And the word of the Lord came to him:

“Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 1 Kings 1:2,3. ESV.

In the book of 1 Kings, we are introduced to Elijah, the prophet. Elijah arrives on the scene without a preamble:

And Elijah the Tishbite who was of the inhabitants of Gilead said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years, but according to my word. (1 Kings 17: 1, KJV).

What an entrance! This relatively unknown man has an encounter with King Ahab and delivers a bold message from God. But the real story begins after this meeting. God directs the prophet to hide beside a brook and wait.

The image of Elijah waiting by a brook is a study in contrasts. There is something calming about being next to a brook. The sound of water trickling over rocks is soothing, inspiring even. Yet here is Elijah by the brook awaiting his next assignment. He has no food except what God sends him through ravens. He has no drink except what he can fetch from the brook. Is it possible that in the midst of this waterside respite, fears and anxieties threaten to disrupt his calm?

On the one hand, because of his relationship with God, he can be certain that God will take care of him, but on the other hand, he is also occupying a space of uncertainty about the next steps in his ministry. Perhaps Elijah wonders about how long the water in the brook will continue to flow or what God will call him to do next. How long must he continue to wait on God to open up a pathway for him to continue his work as a prophet? How prepared is Elijah to wait on God?

The experience of Elijah beside this brook illustrates well the positioning that we must find ourselves in as we learn to wait patiently on God. Waiting by the brook, the prophet comes to a place of full surrender— he is living on God alone.

Elijah’s experience at Cherith suggests that preparation is needed before God can accomplish His great work in our lives. Our waiting moments, rightly used and understood, can prepare us for ministry and service in a way that seasons of ease and abundance cannot! The brook experience is a necessary step for us to connect deeply with the God who can strengthen us for what lies ahead.

Reflect: Think back about your most significant experience of waiting on God. Describe the emotions you had around that experience. What did you learn about God and yourself during that experience?