Animals of the Bible · Sky · Birds

The Raven

The messenger of heavenly provision and the bird fed by the Creator

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Key verse
1 Kings 17:6
Where it lived
The rocky gorge of the brook Cherith, the heights of Gilead and the cracks in the rocks
What it reminds us of
God’s daily care and the keeping of His miraculous promises
Illustration: The Raven

Stories from Scripture

The Raven in the stories of the Bible

  1. The prophet Elijah

    The ravens feed the prophet Elijah at the brook Cherith

    During a great drought in the land of Israel, God sent Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith and commanded the ravens to bring him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening. God used a bird considered unclean to faithfully feed His prophet.

    1 Kings 17:1-6

  2. Jesus Christ

    “Consider the ravens!”

    Jesus urged His disciples to look at the birds so that they would stop worrying: “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”

    Luke 12:24

  3. Job

    Care for the young ravens

    In the book of Job, God asks, “Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat,” showing that no creature is forgotten by the Creator.

    Job 38:41

Wonders of Creation

Did you know?

  • The raven is one of the most intelligent birds on the planet: it solves complex logic puzzles and can imitate sounds from nature.

  • It has glossy black feathers with beautiful metallic shimmer and can live for more than twenty years in the wild.

  • Ravens work together, passing sophisticated vocal messages to each other to signal food or danger.

What the raven teaches us

God takes care of our needs in unexpected ways

If God takes care of the ravens in the valleys and even used them to feed Elijah, He will surely take care of you! We do not have to let fear or worry overwhelm us.

How we can live this out today

When you worry about tomorrow or about the future, remember Elijah’s ravens. God always has an answer in time!

Mini-Quiz

What did you learn about the raven?

To whom did the ravens bring bread and meat in the morning and in the evening at the brook Cherith?

For parents and children

At home and in Sunday school

A question for parents and children

How does nature prove that God takes care of us? What can we do when worries overwhelm us?

My prayer
“Heavenly Father, thank You for taking care of me every day, just as You feed the birds of the air. I put all my trust in You! Amen.”