Trusting God in Times of Persecution – 1 Kings 18:1-19

We do not live in times of much persecution for our faith here in the United States. Our fellow Christians in India, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Dubai and Sri Lanka, just to name a few, are suffering much more than us. But no matter where you are, trusting God in times of persecution is tough. We’re scared, we become tentative about sharing our faith, and our assessment of how big God is can take a beating.

Obadiah, friend of Elijah, is a good man who is facing this very challenge.

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.” So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. 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.) 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.” 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.

And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth. Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.” And Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” (1 Kings 18:1-19, ESV)

There are times when our stand for Christ may lead to persecution. We may fear we will lose a friendship, a job, or even our lives. And like Obadiah we may be prone to argue with God as to why He should not let that happen.

Obadiah had already taken a huge risk, using his influence and prosperity to hide prophets of Yahweh whom Ahab was desirous of killing. Keeping this secret was tantamount to keeping his own life. But now Elijah was threatening his life it seemed by making it evident that Obadiah knew Elijah and knew where he was, but that Elijah would not come forth when Obadiah said he would. Obadiah would be exposed. So he makes his case to Elijah about how faithfully he has served Yahweh and what damage it would do to God’s use of him should he be killed.

Our fears in such cases are understandable and God is not inconsiderate of our anxieties. He knows the risks we take when we stand for Him. But He is also wanting us to understand that He is in charge of this world. It belongs to Him and not to those who would accuse us of making trouble when it is really their refusal to submit to Christ that is causing all the trouble. We can trust Him in all matters. We can trust Him to use our witness as part of His plan to reach the world. And we can trust Him to use even our persecution to accomplish His purposes.

BLESSED are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12

ONE WONDERS why Christians today get off so easily. Is it because unchristian Americans are that much better than unchristian Romans, or is our light so dim that the tormentor can’t see it? What are the things we do that are worth persecuting? Clarence Jordan, Sermon on the Mount