Such responsibility and designation of the Lord’s treasured possession written about in my last post could have brought Israel into an unhealthy and unholy sense of pride. So, the Lord let them know unequivocally both the why’s and why not’s of their selection (see Deuteronomy 7:6-10).
It was neither on account of their number (for, ’til after the death of Joseph, they were but a handful of people); nor because of their merit (for they had often pursued a most perverse and unworthy conduct); but it was because of His love and His promise.
We see similar language in the New Testament both corporately and individually.
In contrast to the worldly thought that “bigger is always better,” Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). He was signifying that numerical amounts played no part in Kingdom power.
It means that regardless of your “flock’s” size, the full wealth of God’s Kingdom is readily available.
For all who have experienced personal salvation, it is well understood that we neither deserved nor were worthy of such: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4, 5).
A common thread in both the choosing of Israel and the “choosing” of you (see John 15:16) is His love. In fact, God’s love is the spool from which the Scripture is sewn.
Bob Sorge writes in The Fire of God’s Love:
“The purpose of the Scriptures is love. The Bible has been given to us in order to incite and perfect our love. If my time in the Bible does not increase my love for God, I’ve missed the whole point…. Everything in the Bible must be seen as somehow directing our hearts more fully into the love of Christ. If there’s a passage you don’t understand, look at it by asking this question, ‘How does this passage point me toward the love of God?’ You may be amazed at what you find. The only way you can understand any passage in the Bible is if you see it as somehow moving you toward the love of God” (page 106).
Get that second cup of coffee today and let’s meditate on the great love with which He loves us! It is truly amazing!
