Elijah Meets Obadiah - Part 6

Hello Everyone:
 
This is from 1Kings 18:3-16.We have now come to the time when ​ Elijah sets out to get back to King Ahab. He first met up with Obadiah who held the highest placed civil service job in Samaria. He was next in rank to the king and had responsibility in governing and administering all the affairs of the royal household. One could also say that he was a so-called “secret Christian” for he skillfully sheltered a hundred prophets of God in the subterranean caves away from the wrath of Jezebel at the time of this drought. 

As Obadiah was out searching for some water and grass land for the king’s horses, he met face to face with Elijah. Obadiah was overwhelmed and fell to his knees saying, “Art thou my lord Elijah?” (1Kings 18:7) He replied, “I am Elijah. I am alive. I am here. Go and tell your lord Ahab.” He knew that Obadiah was riding the fence with divided affections and divided loyalties. The time had come to call his bluff. Whom did he really serve?

Obadiah has now found himself in a frightening bind. He was caught between the spiritual monarch and an earthly king, both of whom he had tried to serve in fear, but neither of whom he totally followed. (sound familiar)  He claims to serve both man and God, but he actually does neither, but lives only to serve his own selfish, self-centered best interests. He is concerned primarily with his own survival.  Such individuals the Spirit of God finds reprehensible. They are neither hot nor cold. They are nauseating.

Elijah reassures him of his word in not disappearing and causing Obadiah his head with these words, “As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him today,” (1Kings 18:15) Now Obadiah is moved by faith and takes Elijah’s words as reliable.

Taking his life into his own hands he hurries off to find Ahab. The impact of Obadiah’s report was sufficient to compel Ahab to come and confront his opponent. Something about the sincerity, earnestness and intensity of Obadiah’s obedience to Elijah’s command had repercussions. Ahab went out to meet Elijah.
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The influence and power of God now was already being felt and it was soon to be felt in the entire nation of Israel! Through Obadiah, Ahab and Elijah were again to meet. It was the prelude to the mighty events soon to happen on Mt. Carmel. Obadiah’s obedience was a part of the great victory to come on Mount Carmel.

Lesson to Learn:

• With all that is going on – we may have to ask – whom do I really serve? We may be confronted with this decision very soon when told that we must take this vaccine in order to get out of our homes and do any participating in the world. Are we going to serve God or the state?

 

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