According to the author of 1 Kings, Obadiah was surprised to meet Elijah on the road and showed respect by bowing down because he knew Elijah was a special man sent by God. Obadiah wanted to make sure he was really seeing Elijah, so he asked if it was truly him.
1 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?
While 1 Kings 18:7 describes a specific encounter between Elijah and Obadiah, 1 John 4:12 claims that no man has seen God at any time, potentially contradicting perceptions of divine interaction.
1 John 4:12: No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.