BAAL’S PROPHETS.

211

CXLVIII.

PAAL's PROPHETS,

pIANY days passed away ;
, and then God told Elijah,

that very soon he would
‘| send rain on the earth;

and He commanded him
to go and tell this to Ahab. Was
Ehjah afraid to go to the wicked
king? No; the prophet obeyed
God without fear, for he knew God
could keep him safely if He pleased.

There was a dreadful famine at
this time in Samaria, where Ahab
lived. All the people and animals
were dying for want of food. The
king called Obadiah, his servant,
and said, “Go now, and seek for
grass by the brooks and fountains;
perhaps there may be a little to save
our poor horses and mules alive.”
So Obadiah left Samaria, and went
through the land, to seek for grass.
Obadiah was a good man; he was
not like his wicked master. Oba-
diah served the Lord. When he
was very young, he began to love
God; and he prayed to be kept
from all the wicked idolatry he saw
in Ahab’s house. God heard the
prayer of Obadiah. He taught him
to do right, and to serve and honor
Him. When Ahab and Jezebel
tried to kill all God’s holy prophets,
Obadiah took those good men, and
hid them in a cave, and fed them
with bread and water, and kept
them safely from the cruel king.
Obadiah often felt very unhappy
when he saw how wicked the king
and queen were; it was sad for him
to live in such a family; but Oba-
diah had another master and king

  

 

in Heaven, who helped him in all
his troubles and difficulties. If we
are, at any time, with wicked peo-
ple, we should try to be like holy
Obadiah: and ask God, as he did,
to help us to do right, and to honor
Him in all things.

Obadiah went alone to obey
Ahab’s command, but he trusted in
God, and God soon comforted him.
Obadiah saw a man coming to meet
him. When the man came near,
Obadiah looked at him, and remem-
bered him directly. Who was it?
It was Hhjah the prophet; and
when Obadiah saw him, he was
very glad, and fell down respect-
fully before him, and said, “ Art
thou my lord Elijah?” He told
him what he had done to the good
men whom Jezebel tried to kill;
and how much he loved the God
whom Elijah loved. Then the
prophet desired Obadiah to go to
Ahab, and say that Elijah was come.
Obadiah was afraid at first. He
thought that perhaps Elijah would
go away again, and then Ahab might
be very angry, and kill him. But
Elijah said, “ Do not fear, I will not
go away; I will show myself to
Ahab to-day.” So Obadiah went,
and told the king, and Ahab came
to meet Elijah. Ahab hated Elijah
very much; and when he saw him,
he said, “Art thou the man that
troubles Israel?” But Elijah an-
swered, “I do not trouble Israel; I
teach the people what is right; but
thou troublest the people, because
thou hast disobeyed God’s com-