8. In my last post, I pointed out that Ezekiel isn't very lucky to be "chosen" by God for a special mission. I've been thinking more about this idea, that "chosen" people are somehow luckier than the rest of us, or better than the rest of us. After all, Colossians 3:12 describes "God's chosen people" as "holy and dearly loved."
So if God chooses certain people and then dearly loves them, it seems like they should be protected from evil, have a minimum of pain, and get a lot of blessings. But I am at a loss to find one example, in the Bible or in history, where God choosing someone means they have an easy life.
I've always struggled with the idea that Israel was "chosen" and the other nations were not. But look what it means in Ezekiel 5:5-14-"Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. And she has rebelled...more than the nations, and...more than the countries all around her. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you...and have not...obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you....I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations..."
Being "chosen" means God has less tolerance for rebellion. The other nations, God expects them to worship other gods. They don't know any better; Israel is supposed to be the example for them, and here Israel is actually rebelling even worse than the surrounding "unchosen" nations!
What about missionaries? I know firsthand that missionaries are honored, venerated, admired. People feel awed that God entrusted such a great task to missionaries. But it doesn't feel like an honor to go to a place where you are a lawbreaker if you pray or go to church, or a place where you are quite literally surrounded by evil spirits disrupting your work. It doesn't feel like an honor to leave your whole family, church, and support system and go to a place where there is no running water or electricity.
Ezekiel's special task was to warn Israel to repent, and he suffered in the process. Israel's special task was to be a light to the nations, and they suffered in the process - especially whenever they disobeyed. Jesus' special task was to bear the world's punishment, and he suffered more than anyone!
I know some sufferers. I don't know what their special task is, but because they are devoted to the Lord, I believe they are "chosen." I believe I am free to pray for their healing and relief - I can ask for anything from God, and he can say "yes" or "no," and sometimes I just pray so that he knows I am sad for the sufferers. Just like the disciples and Mary probably prayed when Jesus was on the cross; just wishing there was something they could do to ease his suffering, but unable to do anything but cry.
So if God chooses certain people and then dearly loves them, it seems like they should be protected from evil, have a minimum of pain, and get a lot of blessings. But I am at a loss to find one example, in the Bible or in history, where God choosing someone means they have an easy life.
I've always struggled with the idea that Israel was "chosen" and the other nations were not. But look what it means in Ezekiel 5:5-14-"Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. And she has rebelled...more than the nations, and...more than the countries all around her. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you...and have not...obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you....I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations..."
Being "chosen" means God has less tolerance for rebellion. The other nations, God expects them to worship other gods. They don't know any better; Israel is supposed to be the example for them, and here Israel is actually rebelling even worse than the surrounding "unchosen" nations!
What about missionaries? I know firsthand that missionaries are honored, venerated, admired. People feel awed that God entrusted such a great task to missionaries. But it doesn't feel like an honor to go to a place where you are a lawbreaker if you pray or go to church, or a place where you are quite literally surrounded by evil spirits disrupting your work. It doesn't feel like an honor to leave your whole family, church, and support system and go to a place where there is no running water or electricity.
Ezekiel's special task was to warn Israel to repent, and he suffered in the process. Israel's special task was to be a light to the nations, and they suffered in the process - especially whenever they disobeyed. Jesus' special task was to bear the world's punishment, and he suffered more than anyone!
I know some sufferers. I don't know what their special task is, but because they are devoted to the Lord, I believe they are "chosen." I believe I am free to pray for their healing and relief - I can ask for anything from God, and he can say "yes" or "no," and sometimes I just pray so that he knows I am sad for the sufferers. Just like the disciples and Mary probably prayed when Jesus was on the cross; just wishing there was something they could do to ease his suffering, but unable to do anything but cry.
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