Samuel's visit to Bethlehem was regarded with apprehension by the elders, and they asked him tremblingly, “Comest thou peaceably?” What a condition of things then existed in Israel that such a question should be addressed to one who loved the nation so well! But when people are not right with God, even the visit of a messenger of God is dreaded. The Corinthian assembly would probably have viewed with alarm an unexpected call from the Apostle while they were tolerating gross evil in their midst. He might bring “a rod” (1 Cor. 4:2121What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? (1 Corinthians 4:21)).
Arrived at Jesse's house, the prophet was about to make a serious blunder. When Jesse's sons came in, Samuel was struck by the fine appearance of Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him.” A man who “from his shoulders and upward...was higher than any of the people” (1 Sam. 10:2323And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. (1 Samuel 10:23)), was at that very moment on Israel's throne and a deplorable failure. The divine reply to the prophet's thought is instructive far beyond the circumstances of that day. “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” “Let no man glory in men” (1 Cor. 3:2121Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; (1 Corinthians 3:21)).
When did God ever choose the first-born of flesh? The one who by reason of his birth has the appearance of claim is throughout Holy Scripture expressly set aside, that all may learn that blessing is altogether of grace. Not Cain, but Abel; not Ishmael, but Isaac; not Esau, but Jacob; not Reuben, but Joseph; not Ephraim, but Manasseh; not Aaron, but Moses; and so on invariably in the ways of God.