Elijah and the Raven

A monologue by Franice Stirling

I was so tired when I finally reached the Kerith Ravine.  After I told King Ahab there would be no rain or dew for the next few years, until I said so, he wanted to kill me.  God told me to go across the Jordan River and hide by the Brook Kerith.  He said he had ordered some ravens to feed me.  I had run until I was exhausted and then stumbled on my way, barely able to keep my balance.  

When I reached the brook, I fell down beside it and drank the cool sweet water.  Nearby was a little depression carved into the bank.  I scraped around with a rock and made myself a little nook in which to sleep.  

The sun was low and I was wondering what I would eat when a raven flew overhead and dropped something.  It landed near my feet.  I picked it up and laughed.  A whole pita bread, and it was still warm from the oven.  “Thank you, Lord,” I prayed.  “Thank you for bringing me safely here and for this good supper.”  

When I awoke in the morning, the first thing I heard was the little brook.  I washed my face and again drank that good water.  I began my morning talk with God, thanking Him for His care and telling Him my needs.  Of course, He knew my needs better than I did. 

A shadow moving on the ground caused me to look up, and there was a raven soaring.  It seemed to study me for a moment, and then it dropped another bread.  It was just as God had said, the ravens would feel me.

Morning and evening she came and each time she got a little closer to me.  Soon she was landing on a rock nearby and placing her food offering there.  I began to call her Rebekah.  She would look at me with those shiny black eyes and tilt her head as if she was trying to understand my talk.  Sometimes more than one raven would come, each with a bit of food.  Rebekah was the only one who would stay and listen to me talk, though.  

The months passed. The brook began to be a little slower and a little narrower.  The effects of the lack of rain were showing.  It was taking longer and longer to fill my water skin.  Finally one day God whispered to me to go to a new hiding place.  A widow in  Sidon was to provide for me.  I left my raven friend with regret, but I never forgot her.

(The character Elijah may bring out the Raven puppet at the appropriate times and hold it on his arm. Bread might be put in its mouth to drop, if desired.)