There was a very special man in Israel named Elijah. He was a prophet of God - someone who spoke God's messages to the people.

At that time, the king of Israel was Ahab. He was a very wicked king. He married a woman named Jezebel, who worshiped false gods. Ahab and Jezebel led the people of Israel to worship Baal, a false god, instead of the true God.

God was not pleased. He sent Elijah with a message for King Ahab.

Elijah courageously went to the king and said:

This meant it would not rain in Israel until Elijah said so! It was an announcement of a great drought.

After delivering this message to the king, Elijah needed to hide. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel would be very angry with him! They might want to kill him.

But God had a plan to take care of His prophet. The Lord said to Elijah:

Elijah obeyed. He went away and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith.

There was Elijah, alone, hidden in a deserted place. There were no cities nearby, no stores, no people to give him food. How would he survive?

But God had said, "I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."

Ravens! Do you know what ravens are? They are large birds with black feathers. Normally, ravens don't take care of people - they only care for themselves!

But God can do extraordinary things. God commanded the ravens, and they obeyed!

Every morning, the ravens brought bread and meat to Elijah. Every evening, the ravens brought bread and meat to Elijah. And Elijah drank water from the brook.

Imagine the scene: Elijah sitting by the stream, and ravens flying to him with food in their beaks! It was a miracle that happened twice a day, every day!

Day after day, Elijah lived there. He drank the fresh water from the brook. He ate the bread and meat the ravens brought.

Meanwhile, throughout the rest of Israel it did not rain. The fields dried up. The crops died. The streams began to dry up. People and animals suffered from thirst and hunger.

But Elijah was safe in his hiding place. He had water to drink. He had food to eat. God was taking care of him!

Elijah didn't need to worry. He didn't need to be afraid. God had promised to take care of him, and God always keeps His promises.

But some time passed, and because there was no rain in the land, it happened that the brook dried up.

The water kept decreasing and decreasing, until there was no more water in the brook Cherith.

Now what would Elijah do? He had no more water to drink! Had God forgotten him?

No! God never forgets His people. God already had the next step of the plan.

The word of the Lord came to him:

God was sending Elijah to another place, where he would be cared for in a different way. But that's another story!

What do we learn from the story of Elijah and the ravens?

First, we learn that God takes care of those who trust in Him. Elijah obeyed God, even when it was dangerous. And God took care of him.

Second, we learn that God can use anything to help us. Who would have imagined that ravens - wild birds! - would bring food to a person? But God commanded, and they obeyed.

Third, we learn that even when there seems to be no way out, God has a plan. When the brook dried up, Elijah could have become desperate. But God already knew what to do.

God took care of Elijah in the wilderness. He will take care of you too! When you trust in God and obey Him, you can be sure: God will take care of you.

It may be in a way you don't expect - like ravens bringing food! But God always takes care of His children.