One would have thought that anointed people of God are above being dented. Our Lord Jesus Christ was greater than the greatest of all men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the young Prophet from Judah on a missionary journey to Bethel 1 King 13: 1-25, Elijah, Elisha and many more. Zacharia was great in anointing as High Priest. He had been serving God relentlessly and successfully throughout. In spite of his selfless  service, Elizabeth his wife remained barren and advanced in age. They have both been praying for others to be blessed as desired with continued success. Delayed response to their prayer tended to weaken Zachariah’s faith in God. In spite of his wife’s barrenness, he continued serving God faithfully before his age-long prayer was hearkened to. Angel Gabriel encountered Zachariah in the Holy of Holies while making various sacrifices for the people.

When the Angel broke the news to him Luke 1: 10-20, Zachariah reacted with doubts rather than busting into instant joy. The Angel had to identify himself as an Angel of God as a means of assuring the High Priest. As God had spoken, His word cannot return to Him void. The Angel did make a pronouncement saying that Zechariah would remain deaf and dumb until the child was born. It came true in that it was on th eighth day at the naming ceremony that he pronounced the name John (John the Baptist). It was like he was tongued-tied  and what tied it just broke loose as pronounced by the Angel.

To say that Prophet Samuel was not able to raise credible children to succeed him is unimaginable. It constituted a dent on his greatness. So it happened to his boss, Prophet Eli whose two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were a great shame to the greatness of their father, Prophet Elisha received double portion of Elijah’s anointing but was unable to replicate his anointing as did Elijah to him. The irony of the situation remained such that one can force a horse to the river but can’t force it to drink. Elisha’s double portion of his mentor’s anointing was a result of his avid interest and attention with unalloyed devotion to the cause for which he was called. He had no ulterior motive as did his own servant Gehazi. The sin of his greed and covetousness, to my mind should not be visited on Elisha.

Throughout the history of mankind no one has ever been hundred percent sinless except the Almighty God, Jesus Christ the Son of the most High and of course the Holy Spirit.