Even in Chaos

1 Kings 18: 1-4

“1 After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab; I will send rain on the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah revered the Lord greatly; 4 when Jezebel was killing off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets, hid them fifty to a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)”

After WWII, stories began to spread about the people who helped to save the Jews who were being persecuted and killed by the Nazis.  These were people who risked their lives as well as the lives of their family members to help people they did not know.  They saved thousands of lives as well as the children, the grandchildren and the great grandchildren who were born of these people. 

Obadiah was such a person.  Jezebel, the wife of the bad King, Ahab, was killing the prophets of the one true God.  Obadiah was a man of importance and position, but above all he loved the Lord.  

Because of his love for God he risked everything he had and his life when he hid 100 of the prophets of God in caves in various places.  He not only hid them, he continued to visit them and give them food and water.

Throughout history humans have persecuted and killed innocent people and fought wars that have caused massive destruction and loss of life; 

But even in the midst of this chaos God’s love has survived through the lives and actions of a few people who were willing to risk everything because of their love of God.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)