The Least of These

^"It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations," Deuteronomy 7:7-9 (ESV)

There is so much to discover about who God is in these verses.  He is faithful and keeps his promises.  He is mighty.  He loves forever.  He is God.  But my favorite part of these verses is the beginning. “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you…”(v.7)

It’s another example, like so many in the Bible, where God uses and chooses the unexpected and unimpressive to work out His plan and will. 

Look at the Israelites for example. Compared to others, they were puny; fewest of all peoples.  So why did He choose them?  Verse 8 says because He loved them and was keeping a promise He made to their fathers.  Not because there was anything impressive about them. 

As churches, if we are on the smaller side, we can feel the same way; “little” and ineffectual. We may feel only the mega church with hundreds attending each week can be most used by God.  We ask ourselves, “What can we offer?  How can God use us?” We are “the fewest of all people”.  Take heart, dear church, God could have chosen any nation, but he chose the fewest.  If he can do that for them, he can use our smaller family to do great things for Him.

On a personal level, I find comfort and hope in the fact that I don’t have to be perfect and “all-together” before God will use me.  Sometimes I look at those around me and say, “Of course, God is using her.  She has the whole Bible memorized including foot notes and cross references.  She brings Matthew Henry’s commentary to every Bible study and not only has a Bible journal, her ‘doodles’, which are actual works of art, have made it in a national Christian magazine.”  Sigh…my doodles are what they are, doodles.  And they don’t see the light of day lest they scare someone.

Beloved, God is not impressed with numbers or perfection or doodles that dazzle.  He is more interested in a heart that loves Him and keeps His commandments (v.9).  He loves using the ‘least of these” to make the most of Him.

Making the most of Him with you,

Lisa