Who is Obadiah in this passage, and how did he fear the Lord?

Obadiah is described as the man in charge of King Ahab’s household, a high position in a corrupt court. Yet the passage says he “feared the Lord greatly.” This shows that, even while serving under an ungodly king, he stayed loyal to God. He did not follow the worship of Baal but secretly protected one hundred of the Lord’s prophets, hiding them in caves and giving them bread and water during the famine. His fear of the Lord was shown not just in words, but in risky, costly actions to care for God’s servants.

What was happening in Israel when God sent Elijah back to Ahab?

The land was in the middle of a long, severe drought that had led to a sore famine in Samaria, where Ahab ruled. This hardship came because the people had turned to idols under Ahab and Jezebel, who even killed the Lord’s prophets. After many days away, God’s word came to Elijah in the third year of his absence, telling him to show himself to Ahab and promising, “I will send rain upon the earth.” So Elijah’s return marks the moment when God is about to act in mercy and confront false worship.

Why was Obadiah afraid when Elijah told him to go to Ahab?

Obadiah feared that if he told Ahab Elijah was there, Elijah might be moved away by the Spirit of the Lord before Ahab arrived. Ahab had been searching everywhere for Elijah and even made nations swear that they could not find him. Obadiah thought that if he reported Elijah’s presence and then Elijah could not be found, Ahab would think he lied and would kill him. He protests more than once that he fears the Lord and has helped God’s prophets, which is why he is so troubled at the thought of dying in this way.

What does Elijah mean when he says he stands before the Lord of hosts?

When Elijah says, “As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand,” he is speaking as a servant who lives and speaks in God’s presence. “Lord of hosts” points to God as the ruler of heavenly armies and all powers. By saying he stands before this God, Elijah shows that he serves a far greater king than Ahab and is sent on God’s business. It is also a strong way to assure Obadiah that he truly will show himself to Ahab that day and will not vanish, because he is acting under God’s living authority.

Why did Ahab and Obadiah search the land for grass during the famine?

The famine was so severe that even the king’s animals were in danger. Ahab cared about saving the horses and mules so they would not lose all the beasts. He and Obadiah divided the land between them and went in different directions to look near fountains and brooks, hoping to find grass. This shows how desperate the situation had become. It also quietly contrasts Ahab’s concern for his animals with Obadiah’s concern for God’s prophets, whom he had been feeding with bread and water at great risk.

What does this passage teach about God’s care and timing?

The passage shows that God governs the timing of both judgment and mercy. The drought had lasted for years, but “after many days” God finally sends Elijah back to Ahab with the promise of rain. God knew exactly when to move from withholding rain to restoring it. At the same time, God had been caring for His people during the dark years, using Obadiah to hide and feed prophets when Jezebel tried to destroy them. So even when judgment falls, God is still at work, preserving and later restoring His people in His own time.

How can believers today relate to Obadiah’s situation in a hostile environment?

Obadiah serves as an example of someone who fears God while working in a setting that is not friendly to faith. He did not control the court, yet he quietly did what he could: he stayed loyal to God, refused false worship, and used his position to protect God’s servants. At the same time, he felt real fear and tension when obedience seemed likely to cost him his life. Believers today who work or live in hard settings can see that God knows their situation, honors hidden faithfulness, and can use them to care for others even when they feel pressure.

Why was Jezebel cutting off the prophets of the Lord, and how did God respond?

Jezebel was strongly attached to Baal worship and used her power to kill the prophets of the Lord, trying to silence God’s voice in the land. Her actions helped spread idolatry and deepen Israel’s unfaithfulness. Yet God did not leave Himself without witnesses. He allowed a faithful servant, Obadiah, to hide one hundred of these prophets in caves and keep them alive with food and water. Later, God sent Elijah back to face Ahab and set up a public showdown with false worship. So even in persecution, God was preserving His people and preparing a response.

1Kgs.18.1

1 Kings 18:1

KJV GOD

And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

Elijah’s Message to Ahab

And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:

For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

¶ And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.

Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord’S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

And Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

Cross References

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