1 KINGS LESSON 23


     We will begin this lesson in I Kings 18:1 "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."

     The time, above, is speaking of about 3 years. This Scripture
following is a direct quote of the Lord Jesus. Luke 4:25 "But I tell
you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when
the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine
was throughout all the land;"  James 5:17 "Elias was a man subject to
like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not
rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and
six months."  There are so many times in the Bible, when three and a
half years are mentioned. I am of the opinion that this three and a
half years is a type and shadow of the three and a half years of the
great tribulation. Notice, it is God who will send the rain at the
announcement by Elijah.

     I Kings 18:2 "And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And
[there was] a sore famine in Samaria."

     Ahab, probably, remembers the drouth that Elijah had predicted
the last time they talked. Samaria is the capital city, where Ahab
lives with Jezebel.

     I Kings 18:3 "And Ahab called Obadiah, which [was] the governor
of [his] house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:"

     This is so strange that a man of Obadiah's faith would be the
governor for Ahab. "Obadiah" means servant of Jehovah. Perhaps, Ahab
had him in this place of authority, because he knew of his honesty.

     I Kings 18:4 "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.)"

     We see that Obadiah, at the risk of his own life, had hidden 100
prophets of the Most High God. He had put 50 in each place and had
sneaked out food to keep them going. Truly, there was very little more
than bread and water for anyone during this drouth. Notice, also, that
it was Jezebel who had cut off the prophets of the LORD. Perhaps, Ahab
did not want them destroyed.

     I Kings 18:5 "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."

     We see the condition of the land had become a truly serious
problem. If they do not do something fast, the animals will die from
starvation. Ahab sends Obadiah one way and he goes the other, because
he knows if Obadiah finds any pasture suitable for the animals, he
will come back and tell him. If he sent someone else, they might stay
and eat and drink themselves, and not come back and tell him.

     I Kings 18:6 "So they divided the land between them to pass
throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another
way by himself."

     This shows the great confidence that Ahab had in Obadiah.

     I Kings 18:7  "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?"

     We see the tremendous respect that Obadiah had for Elijah. He
realized Elijah was a man of God that miracles came through. He knew
that Elijah could pray, and God would answer.

     I Kings 18:8 "And he answered him, I [am]: go, tell thy lord,
Behold, Elijah [is here]."  I Kings 18:9 "And he said, What have I
sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab,
to slay me?"

     This seems like a normal request for Elijah to ask of Obadiah.
Obadiah fears for his life, if he goes and tells Ahab that Elijah is
there.

     I Kings 18:10 "[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."

     We remember from the last lesson, that the LORD told Elijah to go
and hide from Ahab. It seems, that Ahab had tried to no avail to find
Elijah. Ahab blamed Elijah for the drouth. He never once dreamed the
drouth had been sent by God.

     I Kings 18:11 "And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold,
Elijah [is here]." I Kings 18:12 "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."

     Obadiah fears Ahab, but he fears the LORD even more. Obadiah
fears, that if he goes to tell Ahab, God will send Elijah somewhere
else, and he will be killed for saying he had found him. He fears Ahab
will find out about him hiding the 100 true prophets of God.

     I Kings 18:13 "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?"
I Kings 18:14 "And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah
[is here]: and he shall slay me."
     Obadiah is convinced, if he tells Ahab about Elijah, Ahab will
kill him.

     I Kings 18:15 "And Elijah said, [As] the LORD of hosts liveth,
before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day."
I Kings 18:16 "So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab
went to meet Elijah."

     Now that Obadiah is convinced that Elijah will appear before
Ahab, he goes and tells Ahab. When Elijah promises not to leave,
Obadiah believes him. Ahab wants to see Elijah, to get this drouth
stopped.

     I Kings 18:17  "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that
Ahab said unto him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel?"

     Ahab thought that Elijah had some magic powers to make the
drouth. He asks Elijah, if he is the one who started this drouth.

     I Kings 18:18 "And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but
thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the
commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim."

     This is a very true statement. God had caused the drouth because
of their evil worship of Baal. They had brought this drouth upon
themselves with their worship of this false god, Baalim.

     I Kings 18:19 "Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel
unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty,
and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's
table."

     This meeting of all of the heads of the tribes of the people, and
all of the people who wanted to come were to meet with Elijah and the
false prophets on the top of Mount Carmel. The highest point on Mount
Carmel is 1,728 feet. It is a beautiful spot overlooking the
Mediterranean Sea. Notice, all of these false prophets eat at
Jezebel's table. God will manifest Himself in such a way, they will
not be able to deny that he is God.

     We will continue this in the next lesson.













                        1 Kings 23 Questions


1.  The Word of the LORD came to Elijah the _______ year.
2.  Quote Luke chapter 4 verse 25.
3.  Quote James chapter 5 verse 17.
4.  Who will send the rain, when it comes?
5.  There was a sore famine in __________.
6.  Who was Ahab's governor?
7.  What was unusual about this?
8.  What does "Obadiah" mean?
9.  Why do you suppose Ahab had Obadiah in this place of authority?
10. What had Obadiah done, that could have cost him his life, if Ahab
    found out?
11. Where had Obadiah hidden them?
12. What had Obadiah fed them?
13. Where did Ahab send Obadiah?
14. Why were they going to this trouble to find fodder?
15. Who met Obadiah on his way?
16. How did Obadiah greet Elijah?
17. What did Elijah ask Obadiah to do?
18. What was his reply?
19. Who did Ahab blame for the drouth?
20. What did Obadiah believe Ahab would do to him?
21. What convinced Obadiah to go?
22. What did Ahab ask Elijah the minute he saw him?
23. How did Elijah answer him?
24. Who really caused the drouth?
25. Where were all Israel and the prophets of Baal to meet?