p. 83 | ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 11, 1889

ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS.

SPEAKING of the feeding of Elijah by the ravens, as to what they were, and as to how they obtained the food, Talmage says:—

The old rabbins say they got it from the kitchen of King Ahab. Others say that the ravens got the food from pious Obadiah, who was in the habit of feeding the persecuted. Some say that the ravens brought the food to their young in the trees, and that Elijah had only to climb up and get it. Some say that the whole story is improbable; for these were carnivorous birds, and the food they carried was the torn flesh of living beasts, which was ceremonially unclean, or it was carrion, and it would not have been fit for the prophet. Some say they were not ravens at all, but that the word translated "ravens," ought to have been translated "Arabs;" so it would have read: "The Arabs brought bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening."

Anything but admit the Bible to be true. Hew away at this miracle until all the miracle is gone. Go on with the depleting process; but know, my brother, that you are robbing only one man—and that is yourself—of one of the most comforting, beautiful, pathetic, and triumphant lessons in all the ages. I can tell you who these purveyors were: They were ravens. I can tell you who freighted them with provisions: God! I can tell you who launched them: God! I can tell you who taught them which way to fly: God!

I can tell you who told them at what cave to swoop: God! I can tell you who introduced raven to prophet, and prophet to raven: God! There is one passage I will whisper in your ear, for I would not want to utter it aloud, lest some should drop down under its power: "If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city."