Read Deuteronomy 7

“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples…” (Deuteronomy 7:7)

The great prophet Moses reminds Israel of God’s love for them and God’s choosing of them as His special people. But a vital clarification is made. The LORD does not choose or love based on the might, power or strength of a person or persons. Rather, He does so in spite of how small or weak they may be.

How foolish it is for us to think that we have been chosen by God because of some special quality He needs from us. Or to entertain that God chooses to use a group of people in a mighty way because of their talents and gifts. Does not every good and perfect gift come from God in the first place? He does not make divine choices based on analytics, statistics or probabilities. Rather, we observe in Scripture that God has rejected what man considers mighty and strong, and the Almighty has cast down what humanity takes pride in. Ah — our pride is an awful thing! There is no partiality with God.

Jacob, who was the younger and the weaker brother, was chosen to be the predecessor of God’s special people Israel. Saul, who was the least of his father’s house in the least of all tribes of Israel, was chosen to be the first king. David, who was the youngest and least significant son of Jesse, was chosen to be the greatest king. And Mary, who was nothing but a young virgin in the least of all villages in Israel, was chosen to bear the King of kings!

Furthermore, God called Joseph to be second in Egypt while he was humbled in prison; called Moses to lead Israel while he was chasing sheep in Midian; and called Gideon to save Israel with only 300 men while being the least of his brothers in Israel.

Moreover, Jesus chose to reveal His glory by humbling Himself as a Man born in a stable; chose His apostles from a pool of despised fishermen, tax collectors and zealots; and chose salvation through the contemptible instrument of the cross. Christ chose His worst denier, Peter, to lead 3,000 souls to saving faith at Pentecost and chose His worst persecutor, Paul, to spread the gospel to the Gentiles! Truly — God uses the least to accomplish the most, and uses the weak to cast down the strong.

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29)

May we be reminded today of God ways — that He hates the proud heart, but gives grace to the humble (see Luke 1:52; James 4:6). When we are weak, then we are strong! (see 2 Corinthians 12:10) God has graciously set His love on us because of His great love and has chosen us for His glory because of His great glory — all of this in spite of our weaknesses.

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23–24)