(a) Give an account of the meeting between Elijah and Obadiah. [11 marks] (b) What two lessons can be learnt from the encounter? [4 marks]

(a) The meeting between Elijah and Obadiah (1 Kings 18:1-16):

• After three years of drought, the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, commanding him to go and show himself to Ahab, for God would send rain on the land.
• The famine was severe in Samaria. Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was over his household and greatly feared the Lord (he had hidden a hundred prophets by fifties in caves and fed them with bread and water during Jezebel's persecution).
• Ahab and Obadiah divided the land between them to search for grass to keep the horses and mules alive; Ahab went one way and Obadiah another.
• As Obadiah was on the road, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognised him, fell on his face, and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"
• Elijah answered, "It is I. Go, tell your lord, 'Behold, Elijah is here.'"
• Obadiah was afraid, protesting that Ahab had searched every nation for Elijah. He feared that if he announced Elijah, the Spirit of the Lord would carry Elijah away to an unknown place, so that when Ahab came and could not find him, Ahab would kill Obadiah.
• Obadiah reminded Elijah of his own faithfulness in hiding and feeding the Lord's prophets from Jezebel.
• Elijah swore by the Lord of hosts, "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today."
• Reassured, Obadiah went and told Ahab, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

(b) Two lessons that can be learnt:

• Courage and obedience to God. Elijah boldly obeyed God's command to confront Ahab despite the danger to his own life.
• Faithfulness in difficult times. Obadiah served God faithfully, even within a wicked court, by protecting God's prophets at great personal risk. God preserves and uses faithful servants even in hostile places.