Attention!

Bible Passages: 1 Kings 18:1-16, 1 Kings 19:1-18

What draws your attention?

In today’s society attention can be measured through sales, clicks, likes, views, comments and a whole gammut of things, and what maybe have been eye-catching and shocking yesterday, becomes commonplace today and then forgotten about tomorrow. To continue attracting eyes you have to be pushing the envelope to keep that attraction going.

And being holy and righteous isn’t going to gather the attention of the world.

Why can’t God, after someone becomes saved, have super powers? Why can’t they fly through the air, or teleport through walls like what Jesus did?

Wouldn’t God want more people saved? We can’t share the gospel with someone if they’re not here, right? Surely we need a different angle rather than preaching the gospel?

In my early 20’s I was involved with “ministries” to try and woo the world into to hearing the gospel, I had the naive view that by doing things the world was attracted to, coupled with my passion and fervour for the Lord, that the combination of these two things would fuse in helping God in converting sinners to Christ.

But alas it didn’t.

And this is where one needs to be careful when stepping into ministries to be mindful of the pragmatic trap of if it doesn’t convert it doesn’t work.

Unfortunately the pragmatic approach to outreach and ministry means you actually very little concerned about the message, but rather in the metrics.

In our passage tonight we’ve seen the prophet Elijah had a similar issue, and while some ministries can have some great success, we need to ensure we don’t lose sight of the prize - Jesus.

My prayer is that through this passage we will see the Lord in those small imperceptible things.

Obadiah

But before we talk about Elijah, there’s a character I’d like to highlight who is a contrast against Elijah because of his faithfulness and obedience unto the Lord.

There are a couple of aspects I’d like to emphasise about Obadiah, which can be easily missed in the wider narrative of the contest at mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

Who does Obadiah serve?

Notice after the first mention of this man Obadiah we read of this position. He was a governor of Ahab’s house.

Obadiah was given quite a prominent position of authority and trust in Ahab’s house, and no doubt this would have been very important over the previous 3 years due to the drought limiting the available resources. In fact these resources were now at an all time low so Ahab designs a project with only himself and Obadiah to try and find grass to save the horses and mules alive.

Now if Scriptures stopped after introducing Obadiah as the governor of the house there probably wouldn’t have been too many afterthoughts, however, we note at the end of verse 3 Scripture quickly adds that Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.

Fearing the Lord

Firstly, what does that phrase even mean?

Well, thankfully Scripture helps us here by stating a few times what the fear of the Lord looks like, here are some snippets:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7); the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10, Psalms 111:10, Job 28:28);

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13); and

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (Proverbs 16:6), it tendeth to life (Proverbs 19:23) and it prolongeth days (Proverbs 10:27).

The fear of the Lord is both a reverential fear of respect, as you would a commanding officer in the army, but also a fear of God’s power and might on what he can do.

Parachute

To use an illustration, if you’re in on a flight 30,000 feet up in the air and the air hostess tells you to put a parachute on because without it if you have to evacuate the plane in a hurry you would die, you would likely put the parachute on because of the fear of the consequence of facing gravity without it!

In a similar fashion the Bible explains there are consequences when we die. The Bible states in Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Most people think that on the day of judgement if my good deeds outweigh my bad then God will let me into heaven, but sadly my friend you’ve been deceived, as the last book of the Bible, in the book of Revelation 20:12-15 it states:

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So, my friend, you are correct on one aspect: your works will be examined, but not in the way you expect. Your works will not save you, but rather condemn you!

Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Gospel

How can your name be written in the book of life?

They key is Christ. Jesus came to the earth and proclaimed much about life in John 14:6 he stated “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

In John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

So what did Jesus do?

He conquerued death by dying on the cross and taking our place. Our works only condemned us, and their end is seen in the lake of fire.

Yet by Jesus taking upon himself the punishment of our works with His stripes we are healed.

By believing on Jesus, because He lives, we too can live:

John 11:25–26 (KJV 1900) 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Everyone must make this personal decision for themselves. Noone but Christ can have your name in the book of life, but you must believe in him, you must make him your own.

Romans 10:9 (KJV 1900) 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Do not put your choice off until tomorrow, today is the day of salvation, I pray you make that wise decision for yourself today.

Obadiah’s Trust

So what does a godly man like Obadiah do as governor of one of the most wicked kings of Isarel?

I am thankful Obadiah did fear the Lord greatly, because most would fear king Ahab greatly!

And Obadiah wasn’t naive to king Ahab’s moods. He knew if he relayed to king Ahab that Elijah was here and Elijah wasn’t that it would be off with his head!

Obadiah wanted to make certain he understood the Elijah’s request fully.

Do you think it coincidence that God directed Elijah to bump into Obadiah?

Logically, we’d expect to read verse 1 (God tells Elijah to go), then verse 2 (Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab; there was a sore famine in Samaria), and then verse 17 (Ahab sees Elijah). But instead, there’s this unexpected interlude—an exchange between Elijah and Obadiah that appears to interrupt the flow of this narrative.

How is God directing Elijah here?

First we learn a little more about what Ahab was doing when hunting for Elijah, after Elijah declared unto king Ahab 3 years ago that there would be no rain.

And then in verse 12 we read of his personal testimony of his relationship with God since his youth.

Isn’t that encouraging for those amongst us as parents? And mums especially today!

I don’t want to labour on this point as Pastor Fischer did a great job on explaining Proverbs 22:6 this morning, only to add this man Obadiah is an example and an encouragement to us as parents as we raise our children up in the nuture and admonition of the Lord, praying that when they are old they will not depart from it.

I liked what my mother-in-law shared with my wife and I the other night when we had her over for dinner, she said, “When I was young I would talk to my children about God; and now that I am old I talk to God about my children.”

I certainly don’t know the future, I know as a parent I’m not perfect and I will make mistakes, but if I know my children need to make Christ their own, then I need to ensure I’m not that stumblingblock for them, to be a good testimony, to show what it means to follow Christ, what it looks like within the home.

And just as I need to be a good testimony do you see the Obadiah’s testimony as he shares a final witness to Elijah in verse 13?

His testimony showing his faithfulness to the Lord from his youth. And this faithfulness was seen in hiding 100 prophets of the Lord from the eyes of Jezebel who sought to kill them - and his ability to sustain them too!

Do you think it an accident that God directed Elijah to bump into Obadiah?

Why do I keep asking this? Because of what we’re about to jump into with Elijah.

I think God deliberately directed Elijah to Obadiah, and although Elijah might not have seen it at the time, Obadiah’s testimony was an encouragement to Elijah. God was helping Elijah to see he wasn’t alone.

And these are the main point I’d like for us to take away about Obadiah: He was a faithful man of God, diligently served in his role (even one of the worst kings of Israel), and yet was able to keep a faithful testimony due to his strong relationship with God that he had since his youth and shared his testimony of encouragement with Elijah.

Elijah

Moving on, what do we learn from Elijah in this passage?

When we come to 1 Kings 19 we see Elijah fleeing from Jezebel after the epic contest between him and the prophets of Baal on mount Carmel. But I want to quickly reference something back in 1 Kings 18 that I see echoed in 1 Kings 19, in verse 22 Elijah asserts I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord.

Did Elijah forget what Obadiah had just told him earlier how he had hid 100 prophets of the Lord from under the nose of Jezebel? And sustained them?

Perhaps Elijah is declaring I’m the only one out here in the eye of the public sphere, but this seems to continue as we’ll soon see.

Wanted Dead or Alive

From the opening of 1 Kings 19 Ahab’s wife, queen Jezebel, upon hearing the news of the slain prophets of Baal seeks revenge by threatening to kill Elijah. But I’d like to pause and highlight one word here in 1 Kings 19:3 and that’s the word “saw”.

“Saw” what?

Well, if we think about it the land of Samaria had been in famine for a period of at least 3 years and a large crowd had witnessed an epic demonstration of God’s power with the fire and provision with the rain. This moment could become a turning point in Israel’s decay and would threaten those in leadership such as Jezebel who didn’t follow the Lord.

So Jezebel doesn’t want this event to become that catalyst which turns the tide, she instead wants to rid the land of Elijah.

By sending this threatening message to Elijah the word “saw” implies something seen, perhaps even something publicly visible, maybe like those old western posters of fugutives where it boldly declares: Wanted Dead or Alive. Perhaps Jezebel had plastered these all over the place, because whatever it was that Elijah “saw”, it made him run for his life.

Running for his life

So Elijah flees and leaves his servant behind and wanders a day’s journey into the wilderness. You kind of get the sense that this wasn’t something planned, and maybe Elijah wants to quit. There’s a sense of no turning back, and we sense this more in verse 4 where we read:

1 Kings 19:4 “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”

At this juncture Elijah has travelled a long journey from Mount Carmel in the north-west of Israel to the land in the south in Beersheeba, and he extended his wanderings with another full day of travel in the wilderness.

It’s not a good combination: he’s alone, he’s physically exhausted, and he just wants to die.

But notice he doesn’t get an immediate response from God. Instead, in his exhausted condition he falls asleep.

And this is where God sends His angel to help and sustain Elijah. God knows what Elijah needs.

And do you see what God does?

In verses 5 and 6: God lets Elijah rest. He doesn’t slap him about and shake him back into submission. He instead feeds him, gives him water to drink, and let’s him rest some more. Then again after his second rest the angel provides another meal and water to drink, and it’s this second meal that was able to sustain Elijah a full 40 days and nights in the wilderness. What a meal! I’m sure there will be a lot of mum’s in heaven wanting the recipe from that angel!

It’s then in verse 9 we read God asking Elijah: what doest thou here Eljah?

Did God not know? Well of course God would have known, but God doesn’t ask to gather information that He doesn’t already know, perhaps Elijah hasn’t heard himself.

And we already have a sense of Elijah’s reasoning back in verse 4, but now we get further insight into his thoughts that he’s pondered over the last 40 days. And what does he share?

He shares his zeal and complains of the state of the nation of Israel who have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword.

And notice Elijah still continues with the line that he’s the only one, and “they” seek his life, to take it away.

So what does God do in response?

Does God say to Elijah that if he doesn’t get out of his room by the time he counts to 5 that he will do all these things to him (cracking boulders together, ripping the ground underneath him, zapping him with fire)?

No, of course not.

Just as Elijah witnessed God’s power at mount Carmel in the previous chapter (1 Kings 18:38 with fire and 1 Kings 18:45 with great rain), none of these things seemed to move Elijah - just like the nation of Israel!

What did move him?

A still small voice.

So what was God teaching Elijah?

That He (God) is working in seemingly imperceptible ways. The secret things belong unto the Lord as it says in Deut 29:29; and His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts in Isaiah 55:8-9. Elijah wasn’t seeing the drastic change that he thought would happen as he prayed there on mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:37.

He was hoping such a display would ignite a massive revival in the nation of Israel, but he was only getting crickets.

God needs help?

Elijah was falling into this trap into thinking that we can only help souls come to the Saviour if we have some big audacious public display demonstrating the amazing power of God.

Even the Pharisees and the Sadducees tempted Jesus by seeking a “sign from heaven”, but Jesus rebukes their requests stating that “a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.” (Luke 11:29)

Satan himself even used this tactic by tempting Christ to cast himself down from the top of the temple. It would have been quite the public display and would have aroused wonder and maybe even admiration at not being hurt from falling from a such a height (Matthew 4:6).

Need we be reminded of the many miracles God wrought in Egypt and even upon their exodus from Egypt that those 20 years and older perished in the wilderness wanderings? Of all generations who you would think would be the most faithful to God you would think it would have been that generation of Israel.

No, God doesn’t operate just in the big fire cracking moments, but in these seemingly small impercetable ways.

Just as Obadiah shared with Elijah.

Larry Sanger

I remember a few months ago reading the testimony of the founder of Wikipedia, Larry Sanger, who shared his testimony from atheism to faith in Jesus Christ. It’s quite the long read and you get the sense very quickly that Larry loves to write. The tome is quite long and I think it took me over a week to read it.

But what I’m thankful for in his testimony is this very thing of the still small voice - that Larry saw God working in his life in what, at the time, were just seemingly insignificant things.

And sometimes when we reflect and look back in our own life we might say the same. It could have been a conversation with a Christian, someone sharing a testimony of their life, or reading something in God’s word, or even the preaching of God’s word.

These things aren’t monumental award winning moments that will sell millions of copies in books if ever written about.

But this is how God likes to work.

So God asks Elijah the same question again: what are you doing here Elijah (end of verse 13).

Has Elijah remembered his interaction with Obadiah? Has Elijah reflected upon how God has worked in imperceptible ways?

On repeat

Elijah’s second reply is telling. It’s as though he’s memorised his response and can’t think beyond it.

Is Elijah even listening to himself?

You know the prodigal son got to a point where he reflected upon his own condition, and in Luke 15:17 “…when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

Sin can keep us pursuing endless opportunities and vanities all of which avail nothing. The prodigal son pursued those things that appealed unto his flesh, yet when he found himself destitute and lonely - where were those things that were so pleasing? They were no help at all!

It wasn’t until he came to himself, perhaps asking himself the same question that God asked Elijah here: “what am I doing here?” that he realised the trajectory of what all these earthly pleasures had led to - death, as the prodigal son was dying of hunger!

And just as the prodigal son turned away from these worldly pleasures, we too can turn by repenting of the filth we have found ourselves or surrounded in and turn back to the Saviour and to life.

We’re all prone to wander, we’re all like the little lost sheep, but God is faithful and when we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

God is not done

Thankfully… God was not done with Elijah. Elijah wasn’t frustrating God’s plan, and God gave Elijah work to do as his role as prophet. We read in verse 16 that he is tasked to anoint Hazael king over Syria and Jehu king over Israel; and Elisha to be his successor (1 Kings 19:16).

I’m thankful God didn’t cash Elijah away, or leave him alone in the cave.

But God also ends his conversation with Elijah by lovingly correcting his thoughts - informing him that there isn’t just 1, or just 2, or the 100 that Obadiah hid, but instead 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed the knee unto Baal (1 Kings 19:18).

Elijah doesn’t have any further replies.

He understands the point God has made and continues the work God has tasked him to do.

What we learn about this interaction with Elijah is that God does not leave us destitute, He lovingly corrects those whom He loves and continues to lead and guide us, he does not discard us when we get things wrong, and like a loving father restores us to what we should be doing.

Summary

So as we wrap up our exploration through these two chapters I’d like to finish on a couple of questions to ponder on as we consider how God moves in these seemingly small insignficant imperceptible ways:

Has there been an Obadiah in your life?

I’m very thankful for the godly men and women who have played a role in encouraging me in my walk and faith with God’s faithfulness, provision and goodness in their life.

Sadly, I probably haven’t been as appreciative as I would have liked to have been at the time. I was probably a little like Elijah and didn’t fathom the wealth of experience that was being relayed to me for my life, and sometimes it’s not until it’s too late, or years have passed that I’ve begun to appreciate their wisdom.

I’ve learned to listen more and to pocket those pearls of wisdom.

How can you be an Obadiah?

It can be difficult to be an Obadiah if there’s no one around to share your testimony with.

I’m thankful for this church and for the faithful men and women who serve imparting their testimony to me, my wife and my children. Thank you, please keep going, even though it may seem pointless, or there’s very little happening in those you minister unto.

And pray for more opportunities for Obadiah’s in the church. We can get caught up into thinking that we need those zealous types who have had a moutaintop experience in life going from the darkest depraved depths of human experience and now in the glorious light of God’s grace, but like Obadiah, God works in those who are faithful even from their youth!

And don’t be afraid to share, but be careful with what you share. Obviously we don’t want to be a stumblingblock, we don’t want to glorify sin, we want to share a testimony that glorifies God and not ourselves.

Which leads into my final question:

Are you in the wilderness?

Like Elijah are you focussing too heavily on results or rewards? Has the appeal of the world with instant results and rewards captivated you more than Christ? Is patience needed?

Or is your mind caught on something, or you can’t seem to get beyond it. Perhaps you’re neglecting your own physical needs. There has been a weariness in well doing and maybe rest and sustenance is needed to restore the right nutrients into your depleted body. It can be difficult being in service to the Lord when we ourselves are physically drained and exhausted.

It can also be difficult to listen to the still small voice of the Lord when we surround ourselves with distractions and noise. And it can equally be difficult to have our thoughts corrected when we aren’t even listening to God’s word and seeking His direction in life.

Perhaps it’s time to leave the wilderness. To seek the Lord, to listen for that still small voice of his leading and to leave the attention seeking distractions behind.

Amen.

Closing Hymn

Draw Me Nearer (458); Living for Jesus (470); At the cross (129)

Closing benediction

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”