We need to stop ignoring the ravens, (signs) of God’s goodness. I was going outside for a walk the other day, and I saw this huge bird (a hawk, I think) land across the street. I immediately heard the Holy Spirit say, ‘Pay attention.’ How often do we hear those words from the Holy Spirit, and we ignore them or just assume it’s our thoughts? God’s guidance and provision often come through unexpected means. A friend of mine told me she was awakened from a deep sleep with a loud knock. At first, she thought it was someone knocking at the door, but then she heard the Holy Spirit speak to her. We must learn to SHERMA (Hear and Obey).
These signs often serve multiple purposes:
- Demonstrating God’s sovereignty over nature
- Providing guidance or warning
- Confirming divine messages
- Showing care for His people in unexpected ways
In the case of ravens specifically, it’s particularly noteworthy that God chose what was considered an unclean bird (according to Levitical law) to care for Elijah (1 Kings 17:1–7). This illustrates how God’s goodness often works through unexpected channels, challenging human preconceptions about what is “worthy” to be used for divine purposes.
When we explore the more critical appearances of ravens in the Bible and their spiritual significance we discover:
The most prominent appearance of ravens is during the story of Elijah (1 Kings 17:2-6):
“And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan [River]. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to sustain you there [with food].” So he went and did in accordance with the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he would drink from the brook.”
This passage demonstrates several important principles:
1. God can use unlikely sources for provision
2. Divine care often comes through unexpected channels
3. Even “unclean” birds (according to Levitical law) can be instruments of God’s purpose
Ravens also appear in Noah’s story (Genesis 8:6-7):
“After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth.”
Unlike the dove that returned with an olive branch, the raven’s behavior showed different characteristics – persistence and adaptability. Ravens could feed on carrion, allowing them to survive while other birds couldn’t.
In Luke 12:24, Jesus uses ravens as an example of God’s care:
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” God would not tell us to ‘consider the ravens‘ unless it was important that we do so.
The spiritual applications of these passages include:
1. Trust in Divine Provision: Like Elijah, we should trust that God can provide through unexpected sources.
2. Purpose in the Unlikely: God often uses what we consider “unclean” or unlikely to accomplish His purposes. The raven, despite being categorized as an unclean bird, was chosen to feed one of God’s greatest prophets.
3. Adaptability in Faith: Like the raven Noah released, sometimes our path won’t look like others’ (the dove’s), but that doesn’t make it less valuable.
4. Divine Care: As Jesus pointed out, ravens demonstrate God’s attentive care for His creation. If He cares for ravens, how much more does He care for us?
If you would like to explore the prophetic significance of ravens in Biblical narrative, check out my February 2025 Inspirationflows Newsletter.
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