I Kings 18:3-6

What is the responsibility of a Christian working for an employer that does wicked things?

Joseph served an idol-worshipping pharaoh and was second in command in all of Egypt. Daniel served pagan rulers and was honored above all others in the kingdom. Christians in Caesar’s household and centurions in Rome’s army were baptized and received the Holy Spirit. Obadiah served Ahab as the ruler of his household.

Often in Scripture the Lord interrupts what we might consider the “critical path” of the historical narrative to teach us a lesson of how we are to glorify God. The account of Obadiah is one of those occasions. We do not read of Obadiah any further after I Kings 18.* Why does the Scriptural narrative not simply bring us from Zarephath directly to the meeting between Ahab and Elijah? God intended to teach us something by placing this account of faithful Obadiah in between for all generations to read to learn from. Obadiah greatly feared God and was a servant of the Lord.**

The Lord used Obadiah for a very important purpose: to save 100 prophets whom Jezebel and Ahab had appointed for death. In doing so, Obadiah teaches us to fear God above men and God teaches us that He preserves His church even in the worst persecutions and pestilence.

There is no prohibition in Scripture against being employed by ungodly employers. Like, Daniel, Joseph, and Obadiah, we must do our best work in our secular callings as we labor for the glory of God. There is no warrant for Christians to be lazy in their work. Laziness would only bring dishonor to the name of Christ. There is however a prohibition from participating in wickedness. When the prophets of God were appointed to be killed, Obadiah at great risk to his own life not only hid 100 prophets but, also fed them. The law of God supersedes the law of men. The fear of God supersedes the fear of man. “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6)

As long as Obadiah was able to serve God, he served Ahab, his master and employer. When Ahab sent him to search the land for grass for the cattle, Obadiah dutifully obeyed and was used by God as a means by which the Lord would bring about the great meeting at Mt. Carmel.

Today Christians face many temptations to serve their employers even when it means breaking God’s law. Drunkenness is common at work events and dinner meetings. Christians can face mocking for refusing to drink in excess. Temptations exist to engage in licentious behavior. How often are we tempted to take God’s name in vain? Consider the temptation to forget the holiness of the Sabbath Day and instead to complete a work project or gain overtime on that day instead. There are even temptations to support sinful causes to gain advancement in the eyes of managers. But God gives us this testimony of Obadiah to teach us that we are to fear and serve God over men. When men call us to sin against God, we must hide the law of God in our hearts and obey God like Obadiah, who hid the prophets of God and would not let them die.

Let us seek for ourselves this legacy of Obadiah who, “feared the Lord greatly.”

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* Some people have claimed this Obadiah was the same man who wrote the short Old Testament book by the same name. This seems highly unlikely for several reasons, most notably the historical setting of the book of Obadiah and the prophets concern about the Edomites and their treatment of Jerusalem. Jerusalem being in the southern kingdom and taken by Babylon years after the northern kingdom of Israel leaves little possibility that these men are the same.

**The name “Obadiah” means: “Servant of the Lord.”

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