Chosen like Jacob

Psalm 135:4-14

“For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.  For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.  Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.  He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel. Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.”

My business life was working in sales for an amazing Company, but often management did not explain why we were required to go a new direction.  We had a saying the puzzle palace is up to it again.   I always would say I do not have enough insight or information to second guess their decision.  If you and I do not have insight and information to understand why a leader took a company in a new direction, how could we hope to understand why God moves in directions we have no understanding of? 

I’ve never met a dad, who had daughters that did not view them as his treasured possession, yet the people of the world get all upset that God would do so with Jacob for Himself, Israel as His chosen people, His treasured possession.  My mom and dad would often say (How in the “Sam Hill” did you get that opinion or do such and such?  I always wondered who was “Sam Hill,” so I googled the name Sam Hill and found this answer, it was a cleaned up swear word.  "What in the Sam Hill is that?"), the "Sam" coming from salmon(sale(o)mon an oath) and "Hill" from hell.  I guess we could ask what in the Sam Hill makes you think you understand God’s ways?   You began as dirt and you will return to dirt, and you’re just a mist in this life that God has chosen to give you on planet earth, but please do not forget, you have been given a soul that will live forever.  The question is where?  It is of the upmost importance to know that God the Father loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die in your place and pay the full price for your sins.  God the Father and God the Son’s desire is to have fellowship with you, now and forever.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice