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Obadiah who had saved one hundred prophets of the Lord

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1King 18:3-4[NIV]

Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)

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Among the kings of Israel, Ahab along with his queen was the most evil.

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Jezebel, Ahab’s queen, built idols of Baal and Asherah all throughout the land of Israel and ordered everyone to worship them.

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Jezebel used every means to force the people of Israel to worship Baal and Asherah. She had temples built for Baal and Asherah and ordered everyone to bow and worship them.

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In deep thought, she replied to herself, “Now how can I make more people of Israel serve Baal and Asherah. I should make a more powerful plan.”

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She ordered her soldiers, “Now you go slaughter all the prophets who serve the Lord in Israel.”

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Obadiah, who worked in the palace at that time, became aware of this scheme and he said to himself, “If I don’t do anything all the prophets that are serving the Lord will die.”

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Obadiah served in the palace under the wicked King Ahab but unlike the other officers, he was a good servant of God.

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Obadiah wanted to save God’s prophets from the hands of Jezebel so he gathered and met them in a secured place.

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Jezebel ordered the soldiers to begin killing the prophets of the Lord in the land of Israel. Day by day a prophet fell.

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The prophets who heeded the warnings of Obadiah were spared as they hid in the cave that Obadiah prepared for them. The 100 prophets separated into two caves by having 50 prophets in each one.

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Obadiah provided food and water for them while they hid and saved them from the hands of Jezebel.

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Although it would have cost him his life if Jezebel had found out, he trusted in the Lord anyway to keep him safe and continued with courage.

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Although he worked closely for the evil King and with the people who betrayed God to serve the idols, he believed that God lives and wanted to live righteously before Him.

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Obadiah was a faithful man who feared the Lord more than King Ahab or Jezebel who were on the seat of power. God was pleased with his courage to save many prophets.

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Present believers of Jesus should have the faith and courage of Obadiah. Even though my close friends betray God and commit sins. We should be faithful and do the things that please the Lord.

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We all know that Joseph and David did what Obadiah had done. They were steadfast in their faith unaffected by others. People with faith please God and can be used as His instruments. Dear friends, you who have heard the word of God today, let’s follow Obadiah’s example and have faith with all our heart and mind.