Truthful Coworker
(1 Kings 18:1ampsim15)
We need to be truthful to boast of God whom we serve. What it took Elijah to carry out his great mission was his truthfulness. What then did he need next? He needed a truthful coworker. Lets see about this truthful coworker.
1. It takes long days to see a truthful coworker. Elijah demonstrated Gods reviving power through his trials. Yet he needed to wait for many days. It was even harder for him to wait after demonstrating the holy power of God. Seeing Elijah pass his training, God told him to go to Ahab. To Elijah, going to Samaria, where Ahab the ringleader of idolatry and Jezebel lived, during the period of drought and famine was like falling into the jaws of death. God told Elijah to meet Ahab, promising that he would send rain even though Ahab still hadnt repented for three and half years. This was an incomprehensible and dreadful command. Despite warnings, Ahab wouldnt repent because Israel was still under the period of Gods punishment. Thats why many days needed to pass. Yet a truthful coworker appears in this many-days training period.
2. The features of Obadiah, a truthful coworker
1) A devout believer in the Lord. There came a person who seemed more perfect than Elijah by world standards because it was high time for Elijah to meet his coworker, a man of faith God prepared instead of a gentile woman. Obadiah was a person who served God, posted in the high office of Israel as a palace manager. In status, he was much higher than Elijah who belonged to the lowest class. And he was the one person, who played a decisive role as usual.
2) A brave helper who risked his life. Obadiah, who revered God, hid a hundred prophets when Jezebel tried to kill Gods prophets. He was a brave man who didnt care about his life. And God sent him to Elijah when Elijah was recognized by the widow of Zarephath. In some way, though, Obadiah seemed to sit on the fence. Yet he revered God. Would he be pleased to see Ahab who worshipped idols, chased pleasure, persecuted prophets, and tried to till Obadiah? God gives a critical mission to a person like him.
3) A person trusted by people. Ahab trusted Obadiah. Man trusts a truthful person because he himself is not truthful. Thats our instinct. Thus a Christian can be recognized by people, cutting a fine figure in the world while keeping his faith. Of course it is hard to keep his faith in the world of unbelievers. Our life is fleeting. Therefore whatever hard mission we receive from God, we should respond to with Amen. Yet many Christians forget who they are while chasing their success in the world. How ridiculous they are. Its because they dont truly revere God.
4) The one who walks the way of God by himself. Ahab told Obadiah to find springs to keep the horses and mules alive instead of worrying about his people. Thus he showed the ultimate of mans sinful nature and egoism. He seemed to have no idea of the true cause of the drought at all, which was Gods rage. What about you? Arent you looking for your own springs in vain in order to recover the result of your sins? We need to seek first Gods mercy after accepting our sins. This is the true solution to our problems. Ahab went in one direction and Obadiah in another. Thus our direction is obviously different from unbelievers. Ahab took a different way from Obadiahs, failing to recognize his truthful coworker, who revered the Lord. Thats how Obadiah walked the way of God by himself.
5) The one who respects a servant of the Word. God gave the greatest reward to Obadiah walking the way of God by himself: Elijah the servant of the Word. To Obadiah, it was like encountering God himself. Those who revere God should respect a servant of the Word, too. Even though Obadiah was not perfect, God allowed him to see choice people in his proper time because Obadiah revered God.
6) The one undaunted before the world authority. We Christians need to be undaunted before the world always. Elijah said to Obadiah, who paid his respect after recognizing him, 'Go tell your master, Elijah is here.' Thus Elijah was able to be undaunted before the world because all authority is from God.
7) The one who knows his sins. Elijahs request Obadiah to tell his master of his presence scared him. Thus Obadiah showed his limitation. So it is with us. Without our critical situation, we cant see the reality of our faith. Obadiah was obviously in his critical situation, which awoke him spiritually to see his sins.
3. A truthful coworker is recognized by God. We need to put ourselves in Obadiahs shoes. He must have been scared. He must have been tempted to sit back in his comfortable palace seat. Nevertheless, he is accounted as 'a devout believer in the LORD.' God recognized the faith of Obadiah despite his weaknesses. Which do you think is harder―being fed by ravens and the widow of Zarephath or obeying the king who bosses you around in every case? Surely serving a nagging boss is by no means easy. God gave us different gifts. We need to be obedient to our own different roles like Elijahs or Obadiahs or the Zarephath widows. Therefore we need to respect our different roles, remembering that we were born because of our mission and are living here for the sake of the mission.
Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the LORD. (1Kgs 18: 3)
