It was only by the exercise of strong faith in the unfailing power of God's word that Elijah delivered his message. Had he not possessed implicit confidence in the One whom he served, he would never have appeared before Ahab. On his way to Samaria, Elijah had passed by ever-flowing streams, hills covered with verdure, and stately forests that seemed beyond the reach of drought. Everything on which the eye rested was clothed with beauty. The prophet might have wondered how the streams that had never ceased their flow could become dry, or how those hills and valleys could be burned with drought. But he gave no place to 122 unbelief. He fully believed that God would humble apostate Israel, and that through judgments they would be brought to repentance. The fiat of Heaven had gone forth; God's word could not fail; and at the peril of his life Elijah fearlessly fulfilled his commission. Like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, the message of impending judgment fell upon the ears of the wicked king; but before Ahab could recover from his astonishment, or frame a reply, Elijah disappeared as abruptly as he had come, without waiting to witness the effect of his message. And the Lord went before him, 123 making plain the way. "Turn thee eastward," the prophet was bidden, "and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee."

Elias kunne ikke have overbragt sit budskab, hvis han ikke havde haft en stærk tro på Guds ords aldrig svigtende kraft. Hvis han ikke havde næret ubetinget tillid til den Gud, han tjente, ville han aldrig være trådt frem for Akab. På vejen til Samaria var Elias gået forbi floder, som aldrig løb tørre, og frodige høje og prægtige skove, der så ud, som om de aldrig skulle visne. Så langt øjet rakte, var der smukt. Profeten kunne have givet sig til at spekulere på, hvordan evigt rindende floder kunne løbe tørre, og hvorledes disse høje og dale kunne blive afsvedet af tørke. Men han lod ikke vantroen få indpas. Han troede fuldt og fast, at Gud ville ydmyge det frafaldne Israel, og at de kommende straffedomme ville få folket til at angre, Himmelens dekret var givet, og Guds ord kunne ikke slå fejl. Elias udførte frygtløst sit hverv, skønt det skete med fare for hans liv. Budskabet om den truende dom kom som et lyn fra en klar himmel for den onde konge, men inden Akab nåede at genvinde fatningen eller finde et svar, var Elias borte. Han ventede ikke for at se, hvorledes kongen ville reagere på hans budskab, men forsvandt lige så hurtigt, som han var kommet. Herren drog foran ham og beredte vejen. Han modtog denne ordre: "Gå bort herfra og begiv dig østerpå og hold dig skjult ved bækken Krit østen for Jordan; du skal drikke af bækken, og ravnene har jeg pålagt at sørge for føde til dig der."