“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him”. – 1 Kings 19:18 KJV.
God has equipped each and every one of us with the capacity to work for him. He has also given us the free will to choose whether we want to work for him or not. Interestingly, he will not force us but has prepared substitutes for us if we fail to honour him.
Saul was appointed the King of Israel and was seen to be the most suitable at the time, though he himself never thought he would get there. Samuel said of Saul in 1 Samuel 10:24 KJV “And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king”. However when he got to the position he allowed his ego to be bigger than his God and he disobeyed God. When God noticed his disobedience, He chose David as his substitute.
Similarly in our passage, Elijah had done so much for God. He killed four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal in one day after showing that only God can do the impossible to the Israelites in 1 Kings 18:19-40. When he felt tired and disappointed, he ran for his life and told God that he was the only true man of God that was left as all others had been killed! He said in 1 Kings 19:14 KJV “And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away”. God’s response was to cater for him and to tell him what he did not know; that there were seven thousand in Israel that were loyal to him! The bible says in 1 Kings 19:18 KJV “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” .Consequently, he was asked to anoint Elisha as his substitute.
So God has substitutes for everyone of us. If we fail to preach the gospel or do his bid, he will ask our substitutes to step in and we would be the loser. You will not lose in the kingdom of God. You will not be replaced untimely. You will fulfill your purpose in Jesus name.
Prayer: Father, help me to complete your assignment for my life in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero