Reading Portion: 1 Kings 18:1-15
GOD was silent about the famine and the situation in Israel for three years. But people still followed pagan gods and its servants. Hardships never made Israel repent before GOD. But GOD knew a way to bring the people back to Him- by making the people realize who the real GOD is. The same GOD who asked Elijah to hide, now asked him to present himself before Ahab. GOD has appointed a time frame in our lives to be hidden and later, to show ourselves to the world. Though we may not understand why GOD allows us to be hidden, just follow Him and be faithful to Him in the time of hiding. The three long years brought a worse situation in Samaria. The LORD wanted Elijah to convey only one thing to the people, “I will send rain upon the earth.”
Here, we see another person, Obadiah. He was the governor of Ahab’s house and feared the LORD greatly. But his presence could never influence Ahab to turn to GOD. And on the other hand, Ahab’s influence never made Obadiah sin against GOD and worship the pagan gods. Sometimes, we can’t influence people who are in our close proximity, to turn them to do good or our presence may not cause a change in others’ life. GOD’s call for each person is unique and He has never called us to influence everyone around us.
Obadiah is the first zealous man that we see in this passage. His zeal was shown when he preserved the hundred prophets of the LORD when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD. If Obadiah refrained from his call, he could never have saved the hundred prophets of the LORD. So, be faithful in your call. Everyone can’t be Elijah and everyone can’t be Obadiah. Stick to the call for which He has appointed you. Obadiah’s call was to preserve the prophets while he was within the courts of King Ahab. To provide help from within, he risked everything in his life to obey the living GOD.
When Elijah met Obadiah, he was on a mission sent by King Ahab- to find food for the horses and mules. Obadiah was faithful in carrying out the orders given by his higher authorities. But we can say that Obadiah’s search for pasturelands was appointed by GOD so that he could meet Elijah on his way. We can never imagine that a King and his governor would search for pastureland for their cattle. They have servants to do such work. But GOD made him do this task as He wanted to elevate him to a higher level. Obadiah’s faithfulness was clearly visible when he protected the prophets, and as a result, GOD wanted him to be the messenger of Elijah. But Obadiah found it life-threatening to be a messenger of Elijah. Sometimes GOD makes us do things that may seem risky even for our lives, but if we are faithful to GOD in bringing the best for His glory, He will honor us.
Be zealous about GOD and His call. Though we may know nothing about what lies ahead, love GOD wholeheartedly and be zealous for Him.
