So He Went

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Has God ever placed you in a job, location, or situation you never would have chosen for yourself? In 1 Kings 17:7-16, we see how God operates on many fronts to both accomplish His purposes and bless us.

One day, while Elijah was enjoying the restful protection of the Lord at the bottom of the Kerith Ravine, the brook dried up, and his time of being fed by ravens ended. The Lord told him to go to Zarephath where a widow would feed him.

This new direction from the Lord was strange on many levels. First, Zarephath was hard hit by famine. Second, it was in the heart of Baal-worship territory and only seven miles from Jezebel’s home. Zarephath means “smelt,” and the city had a reputation for being a smelly, polluted place where iron was smelted. Elijah must have wondered why he was being asked to leave his comfortable hideout and cross seventy miles of desert to walk into unpleasant and dangerous territory.

But Elijah knew that if God had given him the order, He would provide for his needs. “So he went to Zarephath” (v. 10). Notice the simplicity of Elijah’s response: God spoke, and Elijah obeyed. He did not demand an explanation before taking the first step. He did not allow the difficulty of the journey or the danger of the destination to override the command of God. Sometimes God’s direction will not make sense to us, but our responsibility is not to understand everything before we obey. Our responsibility is to trust Him.

The same God who provided for Elijah at the brook was able to provide for him in Zarephath. God had already gone before him and prepared the means of provision. What looked like a strange detour was actually part of God’s sovereign plan. When God changes your circumstances, do not assume He has forgotten you. He may be leading you into a place where you will see His faithfulness in an entirely new way.

Prayer: Father, help me to trust You like Elijah did and to obey Your commands, even if they don’t make sense to me and take me out of my comfort zone. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands” (Psalm 119:60).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon How God Works, Little + God = Much: LISTEN NOW

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Mahitungod sa Tagsulat

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.