1. It was now three years since it had rained. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said, "Go. Speak to Ahab. Then I will send rain on the land."
2. So Elijah went to speak to Ahab. There wasn't enough food in Samaria. The people there were very hungry.
3. Ahab had sent for Obadiah. He was in charge of Ahab's palace. Obadiah had great respect for the Lord.
4. Ahab's wife Jezebel had been killing off the Lord's prophets. So Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in two caves. He had put 50 in each cave. He had supplied them with food and water.
5. Ahab had said to Obadiah, "Go through the land. Go to all of the springs of water and to the valleys. Maybe we can find some grass there. It will keep the horses and mules alive. Then we won't have to kill any of our animals."
6. So they decided where each of them would look. Ahab went in one direction. Obadiah went in another.
7. As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him. He bowed down to the ground. He said, "My master Elijah! Is it really you?"
8. "Yes," he replied. "Go and tell your master Ahab, 'Elijah is here.' "
9. "What have I done wrong?" asked Obadiah. "Why are you handing me over to Ahab to be put to death?
10. "My master has sent people to look for you everywhere. There isn't a nation or kingdom where he hasn't sent someone to look for you. Suppose a nation or kingdom would claim you weren't there. Then Ahab would make them take an oath and say they couldn't find you. And that's just as sure as the Lord your God is alive.
11. "But now you are telling me to go to my master. You want me to say, 'Elijah is here.'
12. But the Spirit of the Lord might carry you away when I leave you. Then I won't know where you are. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn't find you, he'll kill me. "But I've worshiped the Lord ever since I was young.
13. My master, haven't you heard what I did? Jezebel was killing the Lord's prophets. But I hid 100 of them in two caves. I put 50 in each cave. I supplied them with food and water.
14. And now you are telling me to go to my master Ahab. You want me to say to him, 'Elijah is here.' He'll kill me!"
15. Elijah said, "I serve the Lord who rules over all. You can be sure that he lives. And you can be just as sure that I will speak to Ahab today."
16. Obadiah went back to Ahab. He told Ahab that Elijah wanted to see him. So Ahab went to where Elijah was.
17. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you? You are always stirring up trouble in Israel."
18. "I haven't made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have turned away from the Lord's commands. You have followed the gods that are named after Baal.
19. "Now send for people from all over Israel. Tell them to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the 450 prophets of the god Baal. Also bring the 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah. All of them eat at Jezebel's table."
20. So Ahab sent that message all through Israel. He gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
21. Elijah went there and stood in front of the people. He said, "How long will it take you to make up your minds? If the Lord is the one and only God, follow him. But if Baal is the one and only God, follow him." The people didn't say anything.