1 Kings 19:13-18 ESV
13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

AN UNWORTHY VESSEL.
After the display of power, Elijah wrapped his face with cloak as an act of contrition. Spurgeon said, “it is a great thing when a sinner is willing to wrap his face when he is confounded, and say, ‘I cannot defend my course; I am guilty.’ We know that if at our judgment-seat a man pleads guilty, he is punished; but at the judgment-seat of the gospel whoever pleads guilty is forgiven. Wrap your face.”

And, as God asked the same question, “What are you doing here Elijah?” Elijah blurted the same response. Similarly, Jesus asked the same question to backsliding Peter, “Do you love me?” for three times. And his responses were all the same. That he loved Jesus honestly as a brother.


God puts premium to an honest yet humble heart. Both Elijah and Peter wouldn’t hide the truth. The good thing however was that they had perceived God again rightly. Elijah saw God at Mount Horeb while Peter at the shore of Galilee.

Amazingly, in their acknowledgment of failings, God commissioned them. Elijah had to go and anoint Hazael and Nimshi as new kings of Syria and Israel, respectively. He had to anoint Elisha to replace him as well. What an honor for him to end his ministry in such a fashion. In the case of Peter, he was commissioned by the Lord to go and feed the sheep of God.

Strange as it is, God’s treatment for His despaired soldier is not to put him out of the fight. Instead, He thrusted them into his vineyard, as instruments of blessing. Trust and empowerment are the cures to the wounded soul. Definitely, the feeling of being trusted by no other than God Himself could boast our confidence. For many times, our problem is not our sense of inadequacy. It is our lack of trust that God could use unworthy vessels for His glory, isn’t it? It’s not about us but God always.

Paul had clearly emphasized that God uses the insignificant. He said, “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”[1 Cor 1:26-29]

God uses unworthy vessels as channel for His glory.

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