What about Eliab?

 

Who remembers Eliab? Anyone? I’m sure someone does. Anyway, I’ll remind you.

Eliab was David’s oldest brother, Jesse’s first-born son, the first of eight brothers. A mighty warrior, Eliab was a leader in king Saul’s army and from all accounts must have imagined himself heir to Saul’s throne, but…

Long story short…

God sent the prophet Samuel on assignment to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the future king of Israel. God told him that when he arrives, he must “make a sacrifice to the Lord”. God further instructed Samuel to invite Jesse to the sacrifice.

When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem, he told the elders that he had come to make a sacrifice, and they were to consecrate themselves and join him.

1 Samuel 16:5 tells us that “Samuel made Jesse and his sons holy and invited them to the sacrifice as well.” (CEB)

 We see that Jesse did not come to the sacrifice alone but brought seven sons along.

When Samuel laid his eyes on Eliab, a handsome specimen of a man, tall and muscular – well-built with a commanding presence – he  was convinced that Eliab was God’s choice, but he wasn’t, for God told Samuel,

“Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.” (v 7)

God rejected Eliab. (read 1 Samuel 16)

Clearly, rugged good looks do not a king make. Samuel looked at Eliab and thought that he was the perfect man for the job but what God saw in Eliab disqualified him for the role as king of Israel.

The way Eliab looked on the outside did not matter, it was what he bore on the inside that mattered. It was not about the popular vote; it was about God’s choice and His choice only. Ballots were not cast; there’d been no canvassing, no public meetings, and no billboards erected in and around Bethlehem.

The last time God allowed the people to choose a king turned out disastrous. So, He was not about to let that happen again.

God rejected Eliab. He looked at those characteristics that were not visible. God searched Eliab’s heart, and He knew that he was not the one (see Psalm 139:23).

God knew Eliab’s inner self, his true motives, integrity and morality. Eliab must not have been committed to God with all his heart (see 2 Chronicles 16:9).

God rejected Eliab. Eliab’s heart was not right (read 1 Samuel 17)

Beloved, we may be able to impress our fellowman, but we cannot fool God. God looks into the deepest parts of us. He sees us for who we truly are, so there’s no use in pretending. There are too many pretenders strutting around, even in church. People who have the right appearance, but whose façade God sees right through.

God rejected Eliab. He was not a man after God’s own heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22). What about your heart?

Beloved don’t be Eliab, today you have an opportunity to acknowledge God and serve Him with enthusiastic devotion, He searches your mind and understands the motive behind every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you abandon Him, He will reject you forever (see 1 Chronicles 28:9 CEB).

Allow God to examine you, to look at your heart to see if there is any idolatrous way in you, then lead you on the eternal path! (see Psalm 139:23-24)

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What about Eliab?” © August 5, 2025