Once you see this choosing thing, it pops up all over Scripture, and you begin to yield to it. You have discovered one of His attributes, and you delight in it.

Ephesians 1:4. God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. Yes, before you blew it all those times, and in spite of your future failures, He chose you. I have no idea why.

It’s everywhere. Jesus spends all night in prayer, then chooses 12 disciples. What was wrong with all the other men? Why not just have an open-ended discipleship? Anyone that wants to be with me, come. There was some of that, and those numbers fluctuated through the months. But the chosen group, even Judas, stayed intact. Why weren’t you one of the Twelve? Not fair, you say, I lived 2000 years too late!

Persecution comes to the church. The Pharisees continue their attacks. But God chooses one of them to confound the others. Why Paul? And as the “other” Judas asks in John, “Why will you manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Why not stop all the persecutors with a dream or a vision or an encounter? Why only Paul? Just think, Jesus, what you could do with 25 Paul’s or 100 or 1000?

Jehovah needs no advisors. His plan is His plan. His choices are His choices. We are the ones with the questions. So be it.

Go back in history. He calls Cyrus by name, and says, Cyrus, you are to release my people and let them re-build their temple! Cool. But why only Cyrus? Why not Antiochus Epiphanes? He was a religious enough man. If you had appeared to him, he would have done what he was told and would have freed Israel from the torments he placed on them. Why not speak to the Caesars of Jesus’ day and the apostles’ day? And the religious and irreligious leaders of our own day? Why not go into North Korea and have a chat with Kim Jong Un? Tell him to set Your concentration camp prisoners free. Tell him he is not God but You are. Like You spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, in dreams.

Why? I ask all these questions and remind myself of the book of Job where it was God Himself asking Job question after question to which he had no response. Do we really think we have fathomed the ways of the Lord because we have read His book a few times? Read it again. Live a while. Then read again. Then live some more. Ever so slowly the wise among us get it: God is in charge. He does what He wants to do. He chooses whom he wills. Whether you are particularly enamored with His plans or not.

Based on our inability to choose (point one, above, depravity) God chooses. Would you rather have a world where man makes the choices and decisions? I think not.

In all of our talk of choosing we cannot forget two others chosen of God:

1. 1. The chosen people, Israel. As we learn more of this special nation we understand that the choosing is not only of a physical people but of a Spiritual people. Israel will survive forever, but not according to the flesh. The tree’s branches have been lopped off and replaced with Gentile branches, but in the mind of God that was the original choosing. A people who would love Him from the heart, and do His bidding without question. Israel still stands, elected of God forever.
2. 2. And of course, The Servant King, Jesus. Isaiah calls Him the chosen one in whom God’s soul delights. Jesus is chosen. His followers are chosen. His reign is chosen. The place of His reign is chosen. The very dates of that reign are chosen. The specifics of the Kingdom in terms of people and objects and duties… all chosen. The kingdoms of this world and their rulers, are chosen. Are you chosen?

Many are called, but few are chosen. Yes, the Gospel is preached in all the world as a witness. Many, many hear. But God has chosen only a few of those to respond to that Gospel. Scripture admonishes us all to make not only our calling, but our election, sure. Was it the Gospel that called you, or a friend you wanted to go to church with? Was it the Savior or a free meal? Was it Jesus, or was it a business contact? Did you love His Kingdom or were you trying to make a Kingdom of your own? Have you truly been called? Have you truly been chosen? Is your life now bearing the fruit of a child of God? Do you love people? Are you joyful, peaceful, kind? Do you reach out to souls with God’s Word?