1 Kings 18:2-3
“Now the famine was severe in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, 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.”
The prophet Obadiah was the chief of staff in King Ahab’s palace. As a high official in Ahab’s court, Obadiah had advanced notice of the king’s intent to kill God’s prophets, and also had the means to circumvent it.
Obadiah “feared the Lord greatly” and used his position of authority to protect God’s prophets, hiding a hundred prophets in two caves and providing them bread and water.
This account has many applications for 21st century America. What immediately comes to mind are people in positions of influence and/or authority who seek to protect the unborn by restricting and/or eliminating abortion, who provide support for pregnant mothers, and who offer adoption services.
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” (Psalm 127.3)
Millions of unborn children in America have been killed through abortion, an evil practice that was legalized in 1973. Many citizens, politicians, social leaders, and special interest groups continue to fight vigorously to keep abortion legal in America. Cut through the political rhetoric, and abortion remains what it is: the killing of innocent children.
Do not fall for the trap — the false premise — that abortion is “the right of a woman to control her own body.” Yes, women (and men) have rights. But they also have responsibilities. An unborn child’s right to life supercedes anyone’s “right to control their own body.” To think otherwise is simply twisted.
Also, keep in mind that one of the greatest evils of OT Israel was the sacrificing of their children to Molech, a pagan god introduced in Israel by Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab. Through His prophets — one of whom was Elijah — the Lord warned Israel to repent of their idolatry and evil practices. But Israel was hardhearted and refused to repent, and they eventually suffered the consequences.
In 722 BC, God’s judgment came upon the northern tribes of Israel. The Assyrian king Shalmaneser invaded northern Israel and “carried the Israelites away to Assyria.” Scripture gives the cause for this invasion:
“And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right.” (2 Kings 17.7-9)
One of the most evil things that Israel did was offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, the pagan god introduced by Jezebel during the reign of Ahab. The ritual sacrifice the priests of Molech required was the burning of their infant sons and daughters. Horrifically, this sacrifice was made while the children were alive.
“And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.” (2 Kings 17.17-18)
God judged Israel severely for the monstrous act of child sacrifice, and make no mistake, the Lord will judge America just as severely if we do not repent of our modern version of this dreadful evil.
Coram Deo
