1 Kings 18:7-12

As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. When he recognized him, he fell face down to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?” He replied, “Yes, go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’” Obadiah said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution? As certainly as the Lord your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them swear an oath that they could not find you. Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.”’ But when I leave you, the Lord’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. That would not be fair, because your servant has been a loyal follower of the Lord from my youth.

In the middle of a drought and severe famine, King Ahab wants to save the lives of some of his horses and mules. Obadiah (a servant of the Lord) helps in the search for grass and runs into Elijah, who must be extremely hard to find. King Ahab has looked everywhere for Elijah, and Elijah's reputation precedes him. Obadiah will not even report to King Ahab that he found Elijah because he is afraid that "the Spirit of the Lord might carry Elijah somewhere else" while he goes. At this point in the story, it is no secret that Elijah serves the Lord, and he is one of the few prophets of the Lord that would survive this time period. Many others are killed because of the vast idolatry and confusion going on in Israel. This is a turning point, and the Lord will see justice done and His name glorified once more.