A Quail, a Fish and a Raven

Unexpected Messengers of God’s Provision and Peace

"And my God will meet all your needs according

to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

“I’m so hungry,” Benjamin groaned.

I smiled. “Why don’t we pray together?”

As newlyweds staying at a friend’s cabin in New Zealand, my husband and I were on day two of a three-day fast. Benjamin and I had met in YWAM (Youth With A Mission) during midlife. We had both left our careers to pursue missions, leaving the financial security our jobs provided. We had many questions for God, but the one that loomed the most was finances.

I sat cross-legged on the comfy couch, a fluffy white blanket sprawled across my legs. My Bible lay open in my lap.

Benjamin paced the kitchen floor, struggling with the fast more than I was, when a loud bang came from the bedroom.

We both froze, eyeing each other with confusion.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I jumped up from the couch, joining my husband who rushed to the closed bedroom door. Grabbing the doorknob, my husband peeked in as the door creaked open.

I watched as his eyes grew wide. Following his gaze, I gasped. A quail stood in the middle of the double bed, its head cocked curiously. A quail!

Within seconds, we learned the source of the thumping as the quail attempted to escape—banging first into the ceiling, then the walls, entirely missing the slanted window it must have entered through. A chase ensued. The quail dodged Benjamin’s lunges while leaving a trail of brown blotches on the pretty pink comforter and gray carpeted floor.

After we engineered a pathway out the front door, the quail finally found its escape. We stood at the bedroom entrance surveying the mess, dumbfounded.

And then it hit me. “What do quail mean in the Bible?” I shouted.

Benjamin looked confused—until he caught my meaning. “Provision,” he said, nodding, arms crossed over his chest.

We recounted the story of the Israelites in the desert when God delivered them from Egypt and provided an abundance of quail to eat. Humbled, we praised God for answering our prayers. No matter what we faced ahead of us, we knew God would provide.

Although we continued the fast, I’m sure my husband dreamt of all the different ways he could cook and eat that quail!

---

One year later, we once again found ourselves seeking God for clarity—vision, direction, and provision. We were nearing the end of a season with a missions team and didn’t know what came next. Our funds were dwindling like a maple tree dropping its leaves in late autumn.

While hiking in Glacier National Park, we decided to pray for specific guidance once we reached the lake.

We sat on a lopsided tree next to the muddy water. I took off my shoes and let my feet dangle. Pondweeds littered the shore. Farther out, a turtle sunned itself on a log. Two loons dove for fish. Western lark, hemlock, and spruce-fir trees hugged the perimeter of the lake, encasing us in serenity. A clear sky let the sun warm us on the crisp spring day.

“Let’s pray,” Benjamin whispered.

We lowered our heads and talked to God—thanking Him for all He had done, for the beauty around us, and for His guidance.

As we waited for His response, a breeze refreshed us. The lake hushed. Birds chirped softly in the distance.

Until we heard splashing at our feet.

“Ahh!” we squealed in unison, jumping from the log, my husband instinctively shielding me with his arm.

A fish flapped wildly on the shore before landing back in the water.

“What just happened?” I stammered.

Seconds passed. And then I knew.

“What do fish mean in the Bible?” I squealed.

“Provision,” Benjamin declared, laughing.

Yes, once again, God confirmed: He is our Provider.

We remembered the story in Luke when Jesus told Peter to cast his net after a fruitless night of fishing. Peter hesitated—but obeyed. The net overflowed with fish. Jesus provided.

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Weeks later, nothing had changed. Worry crept in.

One morning, coffee in hand, I stood by the kitchen window, staring at the rugged mountains on the horizon. A flash of black caught my eye. In my neighbor’s chicken coop, a trapped raven flapped wildly, searching for escape.

Watching its desperate attempts, I wondered... God, is this another message?

Sure enough, when I looked up the meaning of ravens in the Bible, I found the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:4–6. After Elijah gave a word to King Ahab, God told him to hide in the Kerith Ravine. A brook gave him water, and a raven brought bread and meat every morning and evening.

God’s peace returned.

I marveled at His creative, unexpected ways of confirming Himself as Jehovah Jireh—our Provider.

Through a quail, a trout, and a raven, God whispered to our hearts: “I see you. I will provide.”

Prayer:

Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, thank You for seeing me in every season of need. Teach me to trust You even when the path feels uncertain. Open my eyes to Your creative ways of showing care, and fill my heart with peace that rests in Your faithful promises. Amen.

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