Useful Bible Studies > 1 Kings Commentary > chapter 18
Obadiah continued to protest. He did not dare to tell Ahab that Elijah had come. Obadiah did not want to leave Elijah, because God might then take Elijah elsewhere (verse 12). Obadiah explained to Elijah how cruel and angry Ahab was. If Elijah did not meet with Ahab, then Ahab would certainly kill Obadiah.
Obadiah considered that Elijah must be sending him to Ahab as a punishment for his (Obadiah’s) evil deeds (verse 9). Obadiah did not know what he had done to deserve such a terrible death. Since he was a boy, he had served the true God. He had remained loyal to God all his life. He did not change his religion to serve Baal and Asherah, Ahab’s false gods. He even risked his own life to save God’s people when Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, was murdering them.
Obadiah did not pretend that he was a perfect man. He knew that he lived a dangerous life. He realised that one day, he would certainly die - and probably, because of the actions of cruel and wicked men.
However, in Obadiah’s opinion, Elijah was sending him to die at once, that same day. In addition, this was happening by God’s special command. Elijah spoke and acted in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Therefore, if Elijah sent Obadiah to Ahab, then that was God’s command to Obadiah. Ahab would not listen if Obadiah appealed to him to save his life. However, God is very kind. Therefore, Obadiah appealed to Elijah, as God’s special servant, to save his life.
Next part: Elijah promises to meet Ahab (1 Kings 18:15)
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