(1 Kings 18:1-19) Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will provide rain on the face of the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly; 4 for when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.) 5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the river valleys; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.” 6 So they divided the land between them to survey it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, Elijah my master?” 8 And he said to him, “It is I. Go, say to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” 9 But he said, “What sin have I committed, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab, to put me to death? 10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my master has not sent word to search for you; and whenever they say, ‘He is not here,’ he makes the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you. 11 Yet now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here!”’
12 "And it will come about when I leave you that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to where I do not know; so when I come and inform Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, though I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth. 13 Has it not been reported to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, that I hid a hundred prophets of the Lord by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? 14 Yet now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; he will then kill me!” 15 Then Elijah said, “As surely as the Lord of armies lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly present myself to him today.” 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and informed him; then Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, the cause of disaster to Israel?” 18 He said, “I have not brought disaster to Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals. 19 Now then, send orders and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Elijah was there because God had sent him to speak to Ahab. While Obadiah showed great respect to his colleague, who had a higher position, interestingly, Obadiah didn't have enough trust in God and His higher position. If he would have given it some thought (before speaking), he would have figured it out - God sent Elijah - that must mean that God is in control of this situation, and there will be a very excellent and poignant reason!!!
In our relationship with the Lord, we also have to give this thought and figure it out. God sends us on missions, no matter who we are or where we are in the world, because He tells us to love and pray for our fellow Christians, for our neighbors, and even for our enemies! Yet, how often don't we trust this? For instance, when someone like Ahab, comes into our life and accuses us of all the wrongs that are happening in the world.
I have someone in my life like that right now. She knows that I am a Christian and she knows that I believe the same things as Franklin Graham. Therefore, I am guilty by association, and she even kind of feels like I could do something about whatever issue she is seeing. She HATES Franklin Graham because she thinks he is spreading a hate-message - when he is absolutely not doing that. Franklin is telling fellow Christians to LOVE people, no matter what.
Remember, "love" is different than "approval". Now, this doesn't mean that we go up to every person and declare all the disapproving things that they are doing. THAT is not love. Even when the adulterous woman was brought forward, Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Only Jesus is without sin, so He could have thrown stones, but He did not. Jesus wasn't even judgy or mean towards her. Instead, He gently and lovingly gave the woman His good news.
We can see Jesus as our ultimate example, as He puts into practice exactly what He "preaches" in His word! Plus He guides us with His indwelling Holy Spirit. Having such a close relationship with the Lord then helps us in our relationships with others, be it with our brothers and sisters in Christ, our family, friends and neighbors, and even with our enemies.
God gives us very clear directions and commandments in the Bible! That means - when we obediently do what He says, in His strength, love and peace, we can be confident that God is in control of these situations, and there will be a very excellent and poignant reason!!!
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