Many are Called

Isaiah 48:12-22

Do you recall the Scripture where it says, “For many are called but few are chosen” it is found in Matthew 22:14, and it is a story Jesus told about a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and Jesus compares it to the kingdom of heaven.  How the king sent his servant out to people he knew and people who knew his son, but they ignored the invite and went on with their lives, and some who were invited seized his servants, treating them shamefully, and killing some of them.  In his anger the king sent his army with orders to destroy the murderers and burn their city.  Then the king told his servant to go out into main roads and invite as many as you find, and so the servant did so, finding both good and bad.  The HCSB has this note on page 1656, “Many people are invited to God’s kingdom, but only those who repent and honor the Son are chosen to enter.”  I also wanted to share this quote: “Many are called; few chosen - Many hear; few believe. Yea, many are members of the visible, but few of the invisible Church.” Wesley's Notes on Matthew 22:14

The call above is to whosoever will, but the call in Isaiah 48 is the called to God’s chosen people, Israel.  He is calling them out of slavery and He is reminding them of who is calling, their Creator, and this is what God said; “I am He; I am the first, and I am the last.  My hands laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.”  You would think His people would pay attention to Him, but then God let them in on what is going to happen, how He will bless Cyrus the pagan king of Persia who the LORD will use to deliver His people from the Babylonians. 

We should remember God is speaking through Isaiah’s lips, and in verse 16, Isaiah is telling the people to come and listen to him, for he has always been upfront with the words God has given him.  Once more, Isaiah reminds the people whose words he is speaking; “This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go.  If only you had paid attention to my commands.”  They would have experienced blessing but instead they received God’s judgment.  Because of Israel’s sin, God was not able to bless them, so instead of a growing population, it had declined.

We who are in Christ have been called and by God’s grace and the faith He has given us we have been chosen.  But I am fearful that many who attend church and do good things, have never come to a time of repentance, where they understand and see themselves as wicked sinners whose redemption is found in the blood of Jesus Christ, and no one else.  Could that be why Wesley made such a statement?  “Many are called; few chosen - Many hear; few believe. Yea, many are members of the visible, but few of the invisible Church.” Wesley's Notes on Matthew 22:14

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice