Ever wonder why some people are chosen by God to be used greatly? Both in modern times and biblical times?

For example, Tim Tebow. If you follow football, then what happened to the Broncos last year led by Tim Tebow was nothing short of the miraculous. But why did God choose to use Tim Tebow? It was because He was a clean vessel. Or was it?

What about Abraham? Why did God make Abraham the father of three major religions of the world – Christianity, Islam, Judaism – numbering majority of the world’s population? It was because he was a seeker of God. Or was it?

What about David? Why did God choose David and made him so successful? It must be because he loved God and had a heart given to God. Or was it?

I used to always think the reason why certain people are chosen is because they were clean vessels whose hearts were tender toward God. But then I ran into some problems. What about Jacob? Why was he chosen? He wasn’t any better than Esau, his brother. What about Judah? He wasn’t any better than his older brother Reuben. Why was he chosen instead? What about the Israelites? Why were they chosen over other nations? They were the most stubborn people on earth! I found my answer here:

“Deut 7:7-9 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

Of course the natural question is then, “why did God love Israel?” What is it about the Israelites that God loved? But think about that question. If there was something inherent with the Israelites that drew God’s love toward them, then it was the Israelites’ own work that made God love. In other words, the Israelites “earned” God’s love because they deserved it. But the Bible makes it very clear that it wasn’t anything in the Israelites that made God choose them. God chose them simply because He is God and He is sovereign over His choices. In other words, Israelites weren’t chosen because they were better than others. God simply decided to choose them.

That’s called grace.

If you are a Christian, it’s not because you have repented of your sins. It’s not because you stayed a virgin. It’s not because your mom/dad prayed hard for you. It’s not because you weighed the option of living for God vs. living atheistically and determined that existentially it makes more sense to live for God. No! It’s because God chose you in spite of who you are!

Praise God!

PH