Ravens

Nevermore! Nevermore should we call a gathering of crows, or ravens, a ‘murder’. Though it is true they tend to gather after the carnivorous feast of predatory animals at the carcass of some poor, expired prey, they have other attributes that would be worth tethering to the nomenclature of their plurality. Crows are one of the most intelligent animals in regards to using tools to solve problems, most of which involve the garnering of food, quite obviously, and even rank similarly to chimps in this regard - which is rather impressive, given that they have a ‘bird brain’, after all. It is a poetic stroke of ironic genetics that gives them their matte black characteristic color, the color most often associated with death. But let us not forget that God likes telling stories where the most unexpected and ironic characters complete the mission needed in the moment. For Elijah, the ravens were not a symbol of death, but the very harbingers of life, bringing him the sustenance of bread in the wilderness. Remember, our God is a God who brings dead men to life, and even uses the symbols of death for life giving purposes!