1 Kings 18:1-6 ESV
After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, 4 and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” 6 So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.

DIPLOMACY AND SMARTNESS.
Should God can use a confrontative prophet Elijah, He can use a diplomatic prophet Obadiah. Obadiah had served Ahab inside the palace. However, it does not mean that He had compromised. God may call us uniquely in His vineyard. Elijah was no better than Obadiah, vice-versa. There should be no comparing as Paul had written, that is “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers.”[1 Cor 3:-9a]

How did he serve God in the courts of Ahab?

He took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water. Unlike Elijah who directly and openly rebuked Ahab, he indirectly and secretly use Ahab’s power and resources for God’s glory. Where did he get the bread and water to feed the one hundred prophets hiding in the caves? Most probably, he risked to channel the king’s resources to support God’s spokesmen.

Obadiah wasn’t coward but wise. God had called him in his position uniquely as was Daniel and his three friends before Nebuchadnezzar. Let’s not forget that Jesus has said to his disciples, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”[Matthew 10:16] In difficult times, we must work harmlessly and wisely for the advancement of God’s kingdom like Daniel and his friends.

Honey hunters do try not to disturb the bee colony as much as possible in getting the honeycomb. Similarly, we can be us stealthy as possible, avoiding unnecessary incumbrance, in promoting or advancing the kingdom of God. We don’t necessarily have to lobby politically in government institutions in order to initiate change, do we? Thank God for godly men and women in oppressive institutions, who feared God greatly and had not bowed to the ‘baals’ of this world.

Are you and I guilty of zeal without knowledge in advancing the kingdom of God? Are we willing to be like Obadiah, to take risk in the kingdom of God in the hostile work places we are in? Do we see an opportunity to work silently in the midst of hostility that would bring impact for the gospel?

Listen and FOLLOW on podcast
Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify
Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast
Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcast

Follow us in various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio

#gospellightfilipino
#godswordfortoday
#bookofkings