I am devastated when I drive past gas stations and see the prices climb by the day. I am saddened by the rapid rate of inflation in groceries. I am scared for mommas of infants when I hear of the scarcity of baby formula. It is clear that this world, particular in the United States, is experiencing a drought, just like in the days of Elijah. My Bible study group is studying the story of Elijah in 1 Kings by Priscilla Shirer. Israel was going through a drought because they were putting their hope in a false god to bring rain for their crops. God stopped the rain for 3 and a half years because He was showing the people of Israel that their source of harvest and prosperity came from no one else but Him. I couldn’t believe the strong parallels from what happened in Israel to what we are experiencing right now in America.
God’s overall purpose for the drought was to turn people’s hardened hearts toward Him. The interesting thing is that the Lord used Elijah to pray that it would not rain during this period of time. (“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.”– James 5:17) Further, Elijah was praying for results that would adversely affect him! I was in awe of Elijah’s obedience to the Lord and His devotion to His will, even if it meant that Elijah would also have to suffer from this forthcoming judgment. Elijah was brave enough to pray these bold prayers because he was dedicated to the Lord’s greater purpose. He was dependent upon Him alone to provide for his needs, whether it was raining or not. As the Lord promised him in Cherith, “It shall be that you will drink of the brook.”– 1 Kings 17:4. And He did provide for him! Despite the lack of rainwater and resources around him, God alone was Elijah’s source. (“The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening.”– 1 Kings 17:6).
I was deeply convicted when I read this. I began to pray that God would bring revival in this nation and to turn hearts back to Him even if it meant Him bringing wrath, drought, and devastation in my own country. I was reluctant in my flesh, but I knew in my spirit that people need to know God, whatever the cost may be. For a long time, the United States has been wayward, giving way to cultural relevance and forsaken the word of God. We have been complacent to the things that God calls sin. We have tolerated racism, human trafficking, modern-day slavery, the murder of the unborn, sexual immorality, hook-up culture, same-sex marriage, transgenderism. We have placed our hope in worldly treasures and worshipped celebrities and political figures. God has given way to our sins, and we have suffered the consequences.
I believe that the devastation in our country’s economy was ordained by God to set us up for revival. I believe that this is a divine set up for a miraculous provision.
It has been prophesied by several reputable prophets that the world’s systems are coming down, but God’s people were coming up. God is bringing forth a revival and turning more and more hearts towards him, the hearts of people who did not know Him before. God is working on restoring the United States; but old systems must be destroyed in order for new things to be born.
But even during this drought, we can have hope by turning to Jehovah Jireh to provide for us. Even when it’s a famine on earth, it will always be a feast in the Kingdom. Because God’s children do not look to the world to satisfy our needs, but to the Lord who provides us with all things according to His riches and glory. Are you willing to put your comfort and security on an alter for the sake of God’s bigger plan to turn hearts toward Him? Will you trust Him alone for your needs during this drought? He did it for Elijah, He’ll do it for us too. We might be in a drought for now, but our hope is in God alone and eventually, rain will come.
“Though the fig tree does noy bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!”– Habakkuk 3:17-19
“The Lord watches over the blameless all their days and their inheritance will last forever. They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger.”– Psalm 37:18-19.
