August 20 Very, Very Dry

1 Kings 18:2(b)-4 Now the famine was severe in Samaria, 3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. 4 While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)

WE know a three-year drought has ravaged Israel, the Northern Kingdom of God's people. In particular, it is believed the drought was most severe in the capital city Samaria. But we see evidence of a greater dryness than no rain or dew, don't we? Jezebel, Ahab's wife and queen of Israel, was determined to remove the worship and the name of the Living God from his people. Against God's commands, Ahab had married her out of a foreign land. Here is a summary of Jezebel's evil life:

    "Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Zidonians. This was the first time that a king of Israel (note Solomon was king of Judah) had allied himself by marriage with a heathen princess; and the alliance was in this case was very disastrous.

    "Jezebel has stamped her name on history as the representative of all that is plotting, crafty, malicious, revengeful, and cruel. She is the first great instigator of persecution against the saints of God. Guided by no principle, restrained by no fear of either God or man, passionate in her attachment to her heathen worship, she spared no pains to maintain idolatry around her. Four hundred and fifty prophets ministered under her care to Baal, besides four hundred prophets of the Asherah, which ate at her table.

    "The idolatry was of the most debased and sensual kind. Her conduct was in many respects very disastrous to the kingdom both of Israel and Judah." (taken from Easton's Bible Dictionary)

    But in the midst of this great evil, God had established a faithful man, Obadiah. He was given great responsibility in Ahab's court. It is fascinating to see that Obadiah survived and thrived in such a pagan court. Again we see God's provision for his own. He protected Obadiah's life and used Obadiah's responsibilities and resources to hide and provide for 100 prophets. This was an enormous task in the great drought.

    Again, God preserves his own amid evil. God will bring his living water into a dry land through people he chooses. Are you one of the chosen messengers?

Prayer: Grant to me, Lord, your thirst-quenching water. Give me a great love for others, so I will teach them to drink. In Jesus' name, amen.