"And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth" (1 Kings 18:1).
Elijah had "prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months." This was by faith (James 5:16-18). There are many Scriptures upon which Elijah could act without a fresh revelation from God (Deut. 11:16,17;28:24). God is reluctant to chastise His people, but Elijah prayed earnestly that it might be so for God's glory and their good.
God does not need any of us to carry out His plans, but the marvelous truth is that He uses man, and often we see in His servants so used a faint picture of the Man of His counsels, who shall fulfill all of His will in righteousness, truth, and mercy (Mic. 7:20).
"Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth" (1 Kings 18:1).
Since God is about to send rain, He would send it by the man who had stopped the rain. The blessing must be identified with Elijah. His mission was to arouse the people of God to repentance and at the same time to a sense of God's purpose of having all of the nation (twelve tribes) as one (verse 31). Mal. 4:5,6 refers to this ultimate purpose, which can only be brought about at the return of Christ. See Acts 3:19-26, N. T. Here Elijah is seen as a type.
As we speak of "his mission" we must remember that Elijah set forth other ministry besides his mission to God's people. The prophet's stay for three and one half years in Zidon could not be construed as a part of his mission. This blessed ministry of grace, reaching to the Gentiles, entirely apart from the calling back to a broken law, is seen throughout his career as a prophet even after his mission is closed (ch. 19:19), when he chooses his successor, Elisha.
In Elijah's ministry he becomes, at times, a lovely type of Christ. The ministry of the Lord Jesus laid the groundwork for the calling out of the assembly.
When Elijah prayed for rain, it is not said in James 5:18 that he prayed earnestly. This was said when he prayed that it might not rain. In verse 18 it says, "And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
What a marvelous jewel mercy is! God is ready to bless! How slow His "strange work," judgment! He exercises patience with His faithless people!
"And Elijah went to show himself 'unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria" (1 Kings 18:2).
The path of faith is fraught with dangers. We would like many times to run away instead of stand our ground. (2 Sam. 23:11,12). If we feel sure that God has sent us, we can rest upon His might against numberless foes. Nearness to God brings this simplicity. Holiness brings us into nearness to God. No communion is found without holiness.
This is the part of Elijah's mission that exemplifies faith in the darkest hours of his service. Only a sense of God's presence could give such calmness. There was no nation where Ahab had not sought for Elijah, for he was bent upon Elijah's destruction. Without hesitation Elijah goes into a scene of famine and heartbreak to meet the idolatrous king Ahab face to face.
The Governor of Ahab's House
"And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house" (1 Kings 18:3).
Here we are introduced to a very different kind of servant of God, unlike Elijah who had a positive testimony. Obadiah was one who feared the Lord greatly, typical of the seven thousand who would not bow to the image of Baal (1 Kings 19:18). This is negative testimony, and characteristic of the greater mass of believers today.
Nowhere do we find Obadiah spoken of as a man of God. Only one who manifests the character of God could be so spoken of. Obadiah's name means "serving Jehovah". This he did, though in an imperfect manner. It is most touching how far-reaching grace is. The least thought, the cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, a crust of bread-all are noticed by our God, because the heart is in it. How often the flesh trembles while the heart grieves. It could be that down through the years Obadiah shed many tears. Hear God's estimate of this servant.
"(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)" (1 Kings 18:3,4).
Compromise
The Spirit of Christ would enable us to see good in our brethren and encourage any little effort for Christ. Poor, failing creatures we are; yet we belong to Christ. What He gets from the most devoted of His people could not be very much, but He values those who think upon His Name in the dark days (Mal. 3:16). Surely there was no power for testimony with Obadiah in the position of compromise that he took, a strange position for a child of God. How hard a path it was with little comfort, because "the fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Prow. 29:25).
Obadiah did risk his life for the testimony of God, but little else has been recorded that was favorable to his account. We do notice that underneath, Obadiah manifested a warm heart filled with divine love. If only he had the courage of Elijah, he could have filled a place as a shepherd among God's faltering people.
In comparing Elijah with Obadiah, surely Elijah would stand out in relief as a man of God. Years of training at Cherith and separation from the evil of the day among God's people contributed to the stalwart character of Elijah. He speaks with poise, power, and fearlessness. This shows the importance of passing through the school of God in fitting one for service. Obadiah had not come this far. The easy life of the king's court could hardly yield what Cherith yielded. The fear of the idolatrous king was a great hindrance to Obadiah. His desire to please the king led this dear man into many fleshly pursuits.
"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" (1 Kings 18:5).
This word offers much to ponder in this day, surrounded by a "Babylon" of religious confusion. I refer to the general condition of those who profess to be God's people. It is well enough to have an ideal as Elijah before us, but, actually, what is our case? Are we more like Obadiah-or Elijah? Are we characterized by virtues of Elijah, or do we have the weaknesses of Obadiah, loving Christ and His people within but little or no testimony without?
"All fountains of water... peradventure" (1 Kings 18:5).
Are these the expressions of the man of faith? In the background and training of these two men we see a reason for the lack of power with Obadiah. We never read of his praying. Many times Elijah is said to be praying fervently, intelligently, and in keeping with the situation at hand.
Obadiah had no definite source of refreshment on which he could rely, but he resorted to all fountains of water, and all brooks, at the command of Ahab. Many of the dear people of God are carelessly seeking their spiritual help from similar sources.
Divine Center
The Spirit of God has come down and indwelt each believer, giving energy and discernment. Also the Holy Spirit has made His abode in the assembly on earth. If the people of God gather according to the divine instructions-only to the name of the Lord Jesus, by the Spirit, waiting upon God in dependence, the need will be supplied in that place where His Name is. The truth of God can be found only where God is pleased to place it. Today, the assembly is made the depositary of the truth, as Israel was in another day. To seek to "all fountains" is to add to the existing confusion. What do the people of God have to do with "peradventure"? If God has communicated His mind, why should there be a "peradventure"?
When the soul is at rest and in communion with the mind of God, there is progress without indecision or fear. There is much among most of God's people that would liken them to the "seven thousand" of which Obadiah seems to be a model. Do we dare look down upon this dear man as we view the state among us today? What shall we do with Scriptures such as: "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge" (Prov. 14:7)? To listen to that which we know to be dishonoring to God is defiling. It is better to not have a formal education than to submit to defilement. "And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean" (Num. 19:15).
We are told in Scripture to flee from evil. "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Tim. 2:8). Men, do our prayers have power? Do we conduct business on the principles of the world, or with a conscience taught by the Word of God? "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel... (which becometh women professing godliness)" (1 Tim. 2:9,10). Women, is the attire that is chosen in keeping with the profession of godliness? Is there the fearlessness of Elijah for the prince of this world, or the weak submitting as Obadiah? It will be just a little while and the Lord shall come. Then there will be no more opportunity to suffer for Christ's sake in rejection.
"That we lose not all the beasts" (1 Kings 18:5).
The great concern of the ungodly king was the "beasts", not the people ("sheep") whom he was given to feed. Do we have a shepherd's heart? David was a shepherd. It was from the shepherd's bag that he drew a stone to slay Goliath who was threatening the people of God (1 Sam. 17:40,49).
There is real power in affection. Poor Obadiah was torn between the shepherd's heart and pleasing the king who was his master.
Walking Alone
"So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself" (1 Kings 18:6).
Not only is there no refreshment for Obadiah, but he must walk alone, no fellowship and no communion-poor, lonely man, treading the wilderness in the very midst of the professing people of God, yet without the joy that should accompany the path of faith. Nevertheless, it is better to walk alone than to be in company with such a man as King Ahab. Secretly, Obadiah sought to serve the Lord-a true heart with an unfaithful testimony.
"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?" (1 Kings 18:7).
It is precious to see how Obadiah immediately recognizes Elijah. Underneath all of the failure in the life of a Christian, there is that which God has wrought. Christ in the believer can always be recognized by a true heart. Here are two servants of God with the very same nature-that of God. There is a difference, however, in the way they carry themselves. There is distance on the part of Elijah because of Obadiah's compromise with Ahab. He was walking afar off from God, but Elijah was walking in fellowship with God. There could be no communion until Obadiah's conscience was. reached.
"And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here" (1 Kings 18:8).
Nothing could have struck home with more power than the words, "thy lord". Poor, cringing Obadiah stands in the presence of a man who is morally far superior to himself, and he is fully aware of it. He is also aware that he is being read through and through. A servant of God who has God's mind knows that unless truth is ministered for the conscience, it cannot achieve its purpose. This gives Obadiah to see himself in the presence of God as God sees him.
It makes little difference whether we look at Elijah as a type of Christ here (Luke 13:1-5), or simply think of the power of the Word of God wielded by the hand of a man of God. Obadiah knew that God was behind Elijah. He knew that Elijah had the power to stop the rain, and also cause it to rain again.
Conscience
How severe the words, "Go tell thy lord," yet Obadiah's conscience must be reached ere the rain falls. This is a type of the seven thousand who are to be blessed with the rain from heaven upon the confession of sin.
"And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me" (1 Kings 18:9)?
It is Obadiah, not Elijah, who raises the question of sin. There, is moral power with a man walking in separation, and there is a right arrow for each conscience (Luke 10:36, Luke 18:22, Luke 22:48, John 18:37, etc.). As Obadiah stands overwhelmed at the meeting with Elijah, his entire path must have been reviewed in a moment. Everything is known by the prophet, bringing his life and ways into the light. He feels that he must speak of the Lord as Elijah's God. Has not Elijah spoken of Ahab as Obadiah's lord? Sin takes a different color in the presence of the man of God from a man walking in compromise. How good if one can be free like Elijah, to serve the living God without being entangled with the chains of compromise. And who was freer than Elijah? One object, one purpose, one path, one hope, one joy. This was not true of the seven thousand.
"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" (1 Kings 18:10-14).
What a pitiful plea on the part of Obadiah. It does not seem that he had advanced in the school of God, though he had feared the Lord from his youth (Psa. 70:17). Does a believer have to say anything about what he did? Poor dear Obadiah now clings to the one thing that he did that showed on whose side he was. "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit" (Matt. 7:17).
As for Elijah, he lived every day under the eye and care of Jehovah. He had nothing to say about what he had done. Was it something to publish abroad, that he dwelt by the brook and ate what the ravens brought him? Yet God has forever inscribed in His holy Word these deeds of Elijah. Was it worthy of note to others how he dwelt with a poor destitute woman who was a widow, and with her son, and ate of her meat for about three years? This is recorded as service to God. Only one taught of God could appreciate this kind of service. Prophetically, Isaiah tells the thoughts of the Lord Jesus at the end of His course here, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught, and in vain; yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God." How glorious and rewarding the day of resurrection will be!
There is serenity and composure for a servant who is convinced that he is in the path that the Lord has laid out for him to serve God alone, to dwell by the brook until it dries up, then to wait for a word from God to send him to a destitute widow to be sustained, and now to approach Ahab who was waiting to kill him. This is what is learned in the school of God-dependence, cost what it will. The Lord Jesus would rather die than disobey.
Why should Obadiah fear for his life when the king has been seeking the life of Elijah for three years, and Elijah, knowing this, is not afraid to walk right up to the king with the message that has been entrusted to him by God?
What do we know about faith? Our every day life betrays only too often how faithless we are. On whose hand are we leaning this very moment? Are man-made institutions safer to trust in than the Lord? Let us not be too hard on Obadiah but rather learn from these solemn lessons something on which our consciences can act. Do not Obadiah's life and ways serve as a mirror for some of us?
Repentance
"And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely spew myself unto him today. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah" (1 Kings 18:15,16).
This seems to culminate the repentance of Obadiah. The word of Elijah fell into good ground. Obadiah now does what he said he would never do for fear of Ahab. We never hear of Obadiah again. Surely his meeting with Elijah must have had a profound effect. It took genuine faith and courage to go to Ahab and tell him that Elijah was there.
Should we compare Obadiah with Ahab, there would be greater contrast than comparing Elijah with Obadiah. Ahab's selfish interests were apparent, as few can carry power without abusing it. Ahab walked in an unprincipled, ungodly path and was an idolater with no heart for the people of God.
The record stands forever in God's Word of a man who was honored above many, but he lived to do evil as none before him (1 Kings 16:30-33). "Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish" (Psa. 49:20).