Who provides for the raven its prey when its young ones cry to God and wander about for lack of food?
–Job 38:41 AMP
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Previously, I wrote about the synchronistic appearance of three ravens in one day. The raven is a prophetic messenger. It’s the symbol of a shape-shifter and indicates “changes in consciousness. … The raven also symbolizes healing powers, the ability to draw secrets from the shadows. … She brings new things, new places, new ideas, and rebirth.” (http://www.petandwildlife.com/animal-totems/the-raven-spirit-guide.html)
The other day, I discovered some notes I made on January 7, 2010, based on Luke 12:24, where Jesus said, “Consider the ravens.” I sensed Spirit nudging me to write about it.
Do Not Worry
The context of this passage is not worrying about the basic necessities of life:
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider 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! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
–Luke 12:22-16 NIV
Food, clothing, and shelter are legitimate concerns for everyone. But the point Jesus is making here is that you cannot get these things—or anything at all—by worrying. But you can receive what you need by simple trust and faith in God’s provision. He provides the ravens as an example.
“Consider the ravens” is a command. “Consider” means to perceive, understand, fix your mind upon attentively. So I did.
Raven: the Natural Bird
In the natural, the raven is a black bird in the corvid family, several inches larger than its cousin the crow. Ravens are scavengers, but they’re intelligent. They mate for life.
Biblical Significance of the Raven
The raven is the first bird mentioned by name in the Bible. It plays a part in the account of the Noahic flood.
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After the rain abated and the ark came to rest on a mountain of Ararat, Noah first “sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth” (Gen. 8:7 NIV). It did not return to the ark. So Noah released a dove, which brought back an olive branch (8:10-11).
Jesus said that ravens neither sow nor reap. They do not gather into barns. (And what was the ark, but a floating barn?) They do not plan ahead with forethought; they take no thought for the future. Yet God provides for them. And God uses them to feed others.
“Unclean” Ravens Feed the Prophet Elijah
Ravens are a bird of the desolate wilderness. They are one of several birds classified as “unclean” for human consumption in the Old Testament (see Lev. 11:13-15; Ezek. 4:14) . Yet God cared enough about them to give them a place in the ark.
Ravens are associated with the drying up of waters. We see them first by this light in the account of the Deluge. The next time they figure prominently in the biblical text is in the life of the prophet Elijah (ninth century BC).
Elijah was a man of the wilderness. In the Old Testament, many individuals of Semitic descent are identified through their lineage. But not Elijah. Like the mysterious priest Melchizedek, Elijah’s geographical location is given, but not his lineage.
Elijah was born in Tishbe, which means “captivity.” Tishbe was in the territory of Gilead in Israel, east of the Jordan River. It is situated near the brook Cherith (now Kerith). Cherith means “cutting, separation, gorge, torrent-bed, or winter stream,” indicating that this valley stream had water during the winter but dried up during the summer months.
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The brook Cherith is in wild terrain. After a demonstration of spiritual power in which fire falls from heaven, Elijah prophesies a drought to King Ahab and then, afraid for his life, goes into hiding in the Cherith ravine. There, God sends ravens—unclean birds to the Hebrew prophet—that bring him bread and meat twice daily to sustain him. This provision continues until the waters dry up (1 Kings17:5-7).
In the natural, Elijah had reason to worry. His ministry had caused the drought situation that he himself was subject to. However, because he was true to his calling, God provided for his needs.
Spirit used ravens, “unclean” scavengers that do not themselves gather provisions, to provide for the needs of the man of God. And he did not refuse the provision on religious grounds. When water—the most basic necessity for life—dried up, God gave Elijah a message about where he could find provision (1 Kings17:8-14).
Ravens Bring a Change in Consciousness
Elsewhere, I wrote that ravens represent change and the birth of new ideas. They indicate transformation and change in consciousness, an increase in prophetic revelation and healing power, and the necessity of taking advantage of these opportunities.
For many years, Spirit has told me that I would receive revelation from higher consciousness like the ravens feeding Elijah (beginning in Jan. 6, 1990), and this sustenance would feed me spiritually, strengthening me for my journey ahead (Oct. 18, 1991). On January 9, 1996, my guide said:
Have I not provided for all your needs? I will continue to do so. Do not fear if the brook dries up; I will take you to a place where springs of water abound. I will feed you as the ravens fed Elijah. I will give you manna from heaven. But do not fear and do not fret, but look to me and trust in me, and I will continue to provide for you as I have done in the past.
This message ties Spirit’s provision to faith and recommends not worrying about my future.
Do you fear what the future holds (or may withhold)? Jesus says, “How much more valuable you are than birds!” The Creator provides for birds that do not gather into storehouses and that take no thought for their future. God will do the same for you if you listen for the voice of Spirit.
Spiritual Insight Delivered by the Ravens
The biblical lesson of ravens speaks not only to God’s provision for our natural needs, but also to spiritual insight and revelation.
Twenty years ago, I was an extremely conservative Christian and would have considered any kind of teaching from New Age or Spiritualist sources as “unclean.” But inherent even in my early messages concerning the ravens’ future provision was the idea of spiritual provision and revelation from alternative sources.
On October 22, 2007, I asked my guides how I could prepare for the work they were calling me to do. This is the response I received:
Study to show yourself approved. Eat that which I bring you by the ravens, and you will be sustained. You will be sustained, even in a time of drought, to make the journey and speak the word that I shall yet have you to speak. Do not worry, but keep your heart pliable and fixed on my purposes, and I will bring about your education and upbringing so that you might be my mouthpiece and spokesman for the changes to come.
I took this to mean I should read and study the material about psychic phenomena that I had taken an interest in after my spiritual awakening. On December 20, 2007, I asked what was meant by “eat that which I bring you by the ravens.” Answer:
This is revelation. It is not what you have worked to gather for yourself. But it is what I bring you, what is necessary for your survival and sustenance. As you read and receive this revelation, write it down as you have been doing. For I will take these tidbits and nourish you with them. Fret not about the source, but cherish the quality of insight and understanding that they bring, and I will provide you signposts and confirmation to lead you along your way.
Since that time, I’ve endeavored to be faithful to study the things Spirit has given me hunger for, and to record the insights revealed to me. I am now attending Fellowships of the Spirit’s School of Prophecy and Healing to develop the skills I need to be a spokesman, prophet, and mouthpiece.
Peter’s Clairvoyant Trance
The Apostle Peter was one who, up to a point in his life, refused to eat anything considered ceremonially unclean. But then Spirit gave him a vision that changed his perception and revealed a progression in consciousness.
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9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
–Acts 10:9-15 NIV
Jesus had already declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). But it took a personal revelation for Peter to “get it.” This clairvoyant trance experience revealed that not only was no food considered to be ceremonially unclean, but neither were any people. Based on this vision, Peter preached the Gospel to the Gentiles (previously considered spiritually “unclean”), and they received the Holy Spirit (see Acts 10:44-48), Whom he had years before prophesied would be poured out upon ALL people (Acts 2:17).
Conclusion
Who provides for the raven? God does. And God will provide for you, for you are cherished more than birds. If you trust Spirit and remain open, you will receive guidance not only for your physical needs, but your spiritual ones too.