And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
Elijah identifies himself to Obadiah as Elijah and commissions him to report to Ahab that Elijah is there. The exchange takes place during the famine and drought, amid the events leading to Elijah's confrontation with the king. That famine lasted three and a half years. At the time Obadiah was serving Ahab during Israel's apostasy while remaining faithful to God.
Carrying the message was dangerous because Ahab had searched widely for Elijah. Obadiah feared the Spirit might carry Elijah away before Ahab could find him. He feared Ahab might kill him if Elijah was gone when Ahab arrived. Elijah assured Obadiah that he would meet and present himself to Ahab that day.
Elijah would not go to Ahab himself but sent word for Ahab to come to him, acting as God's messenger and expecting the respect due that commission. Obadiah delivered the message.
The verse belongs to Elijah's prophetic work in Israel when he stood alone for God on Mount Carmel, where faith brought the overthrow of idolatry and the returning rain testified to blessings awaiting Israel. Later fear and loss of faith cut short the work he had begun. Later in weakness he fled Jezebel's threats, and God gave his prophetic work to another.
Elijah identifies himself to Obadiah as Elijah and commissions him to report to Ahab that Elijah is there. The exchange takes place during the famine and drought, amid the events leading to Elijah's confrontation with the king. That famine lasted three and a half years. At the time Obadiah was serving Ahab during Israel's apostasy while remaining faithful to God.
Carrying the message was dangerous because Ahab had searched widely for Elijah. Obadiah feared the Spirit might carry Elijah away before Ahab could find him. He feared Ahab might kill him if Elijah was gone when Ahab arrived. Elijah assured Obadiah that he would meet and present himself to Ahab that day.
Elijah would not go to Ahab himself but sent word for Ahab to come to him, acting as God's messenger and expecting the respect due that commission. Obadiah delivered the message.
The verse belongs to Elijah's prophetic work in Israel when he stood alone for God on Mount Carmel, where faith brought the overthrow of idolatry and the returning rain testified to blessings awaiting Israel. Later fear and loss of faith cut short the work he had begun. Later in weakness he fled Jezebel's threats, and God gave his prophetic work to another.