1 Kings 19:13

" Wrapped his face in his mantle ." He was afraid to look upon God ( Exodus 3:6 ; cf. Genesis 3:10 , "I hid myself"). "Conscience makes cowards of us all." Besides, no man can see His face and live ( Exodus 33:20 ). The beatific vision is too much for our poor mortality, too much for the angelic powers ( Isaiah 6:2 ). It is in mercy that God is veiled from our view. The seeing God as He is belongs to the times of restitution ( Matthew 5:8 ; Hebrews 12:14 ; Revelation 1:7 ; Revelation 22:4 ; 1 Corinthians 13:12 ).