As one of the world’s most intelligent birds, the common raven is able to thrive in various habitats ranging from tundra and boreal forests to barren deserts.
God gave Elijah instructions to go and hide in a cave near Cherith Brook east of Jordan, commanding that ravens bring food for him as part of His amazing provision for His prophet. This demonstrated God’s power to provide in unexpected ways.
Table of Contents
Elijah was weak and abandoned
Ravens have long been depicted as symbols of strength and resilience in the Bible. Capable of finding food even in difficult locations and weather conditions, ravens have come to be seen as signs of good fortune by ancient Jews who believed that ravens remembered where they found food even if it had been hidden for some time buried beneath the soil.
1 Chronicles 17:2-6, God sends Elijah two ravens as a sign from Him that He will provide for him when fasting for 40 days and nights in the wilderness. Through this example He reminds us not to underestimate small and seemingly insignificant things as He can use even them for His glory!
After his victory on Mount Carmel, God instructed Elijah to find shelter in a ravine east of Jordan where ravens would feed him daily – though Elijah might have preferred another location since exertion from Mount Carmel had been taxing. Elijah complied with God’s orders even if it meant resting more comfortably elsewhere – having expended so much energy on that mountaintop he required rest and recuperation time.
He soon realized that the drought was worsening and had no food available to him, placing his mind and body into an overwhelming state of uncertainty and discouragement. Yet, He knew God wouldn’t abandon Him and so kept hoping.
Elijah remembered the story of Noah’s Ark and how the raven managed to find food inside a box, so when he saw the raven he decided to attempt something similar by inserting a thorn into its foot and driving it deeper until pain caused it to drop its box, which contained all of its resources: sun, moon and stars that provided light for life to develop on Earth and thus allow civilizations to expand further.
The metaphor of the raven’s foot serves to illustrate all of life’s hardships and difficulties. While we may become discouraged when facing hardship, we should remember that God is with us and will provide all our needs.
God’s provision
The raven is a symbol of God’s provision in the Bible, appearing 11 times including in Noah’s Ark story. We first encounter it when Noah sent out one to find land after the flood; its return with a branch assuring Noah there is land nearby demonstrates how everything can be used by Him for His will and purpose.
Ravens are large black birds related to crows. Like their close relatives, ravens feed on fruits, insects, bread and carrion (the flesh of dead animals). Renowned for their intelligence and aerial acrobatic capabilities, ravens represent strength and resilience – which explains why God used them as a symbol for Elijah in Scripture.
God provides for us in many subtle and difficult to perceive ways, yet often remains hidden and hard to detect. Though most often associated with money or things, His provision can often go much deeper. When reading the Bible we see that His provision for people came in some unexpected forms: such as when He provided food to Elijah from a brook and ravens as a sign of His care for all creatures on this Earth.
God provides for us through relationships. God is our father and we should love him like our own children; when in need, it’s best to turn to our heavenly father for assistance and advice; He knows better what our needs are than anyone else and cares more deeply for our wellbeing than us!
If we find ourselves doubting God’s providence, we should remember Jacob. Through his sons’ testimonies and Joseph’s words as well as wagons sent for transporting him, God changed Jacob’s despair into hope. Likewise when faced with difficult circumstances we should follow the advice of Jesus: ‘Consider the ravens; for they do neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them’ and trust that He will provide for us also.
God’s love
God is constantly looking for ways to show his love and care through both good times and difficult circumstances; one example being ravens. Ravens may have a reputation for being evil, but in truth they serve an essential function: cleaning up dead animals from around dead animal carcasses. Furthermore, in some cultures ravens are seen as symbols of death due to their unsettling and melancholy calls which often carry an omen of death and misfortune – leading many people to view ravens as signs that death and misfortune await.
Ravens are symbols of power, strength and resilience. Intelligent birds capable of flying at high speeds with incredible aerial acrobatics; also often associated with foresight, secrecy and wisdom – seeing one may be a sign that it is time to slow down and reflect upon yourself – you might just understand what message the raven is trying to relay!
Ravens in the Bible symbolize God’s care and providence, serving as an icon that reminds us that He is always with us and always present. God watches out for all of His creatures – even the smallest and weakest ones like sparrows; He knows when a sparrow dies and even looks after birds of flight (Matthew 10:29).
One of the most iconic scenes involving ravens occurred when Noah sent two young ravens out to test whether flood waters had receded enough for him to disembark from the Ark. Once these ravens returned with food in their beaks, Noah knew it was safe to disembark from his ship and leave its safety.
God demonstrated His care and provision when He fed Elijah with ravens – an event which symbolized Elijah’s devotion and trust for Him. According to Crosswalk, this event proved Elijah was right in trusting God. Using an unclean bird like a raven as food may seem strange but that does not negate God’s goodness – all are faithful servants.
God’s mercy
Not everyone views ravens as symbols of witchcraft; others see them more spiritually. Some view them as signs of forgiveness while others believe they can teach us flexibility and adaptability during difficult times. Whatever our perception may be, these birds offer us a new perspective to look at situations more clearly.
The Bible mentions ravens 11 times, including their role in Noah’s ark story (Gen. 8:6-7). When Noah opened up a window of the ark and sent out a raven as part of an experiment to test whether or not the land had dried up after flooding had subsided, instead of taking back in a dove that had previously flown freely out from inside it to continue flying back inside with it like had happened with its counterpart (a dove was taken back inside after every flight out), unlike its counterpart who returned inevitably.
God shows His compassion again in 1 Kings 17:2-6, where Prophet Elijah had fasted for 40 days and nights before becoming depleted of sustenance after fasting for 40 more. Even through such extreme deprivation, He sent ravens as His messengers bringing food prepared by them – although these creatures may not seem worthy – which were brought from other cities by way of unclean birds like ravens. Through them He demonstrated His power and glory by trusting vital tasks to those not normally considered worthy while also showing He could sustain life in whatever manner He chose.
Finally, the Bible teaches that God’s mercy is unending and inexhaustible. He shows this compassion toward all His creation, yet especially towards those who fear Him. Furthermore, He promises to remember their good deeds for many generations ahead. Additionally, He punishes evil acts but will limit this punishment only until their third or fourth generation passes on.
Dreams that feature ravens or crows can portend betrayal, disloyalty or death; long-term sickness or depression; being stuck in sinful cycles or addiction patterns may also indicate this fate; in such situations it is essential to reach out for God for help – his mercy will help you overcome them all!
