People in many roles prove susceptible to influence from others, whether politicians swayed by wealthy donors seeking power, doctors accepting payments from pharmaceutical companies, students absorbing professors' radical ideas for better grades, fans imitating celebrities, or children copying their parents. Such influences often lead individuals to compromise righteous standards instinctively rather than through deliberate analysis, since most situations allow little time for reflection and reactions stem more from prior shaping than from careful evaluation. The account of Obadiah illustrates how backgrounds shape responses yet can be overcome. Although raised among pagan Edomites, Obadiah later feared the Lord greatly, as indicated by the placement of that statement after his introduction as Ahab's household governor in I Kings 18:3. This order shows his conversion occurred after entering Ahab's service. In contrast, Esau, raised by righteous parents, rebelled against that upbringing and acted according to his name's meaning of acting instinctively on his own. Obadiah, whose name means serving God, resisted negative influences, hid one hundred prophets from Jezebel, and supplied them with bread and water at great personal risk, as recorded in I Kings 18:4. Such choices demonstrate that responding according to God's will rather than instinctive feelings strengthens future resistance to unrighteous pressures. Scripture itself provides the means for proper influence, since all of it is inspired by God and equips the man of God for every good work, as Paul states in II Timothy 3:16-17. Therefore, one must become susceptible to God's influence through study and obedience to His Word instead of human traditions or prior conditioning. David's counsel to Solomon reinforces this by urging knowledge of God and service with a loyal heart and willing mind, for the Lord examines every heart and rewards those who seek Him.