⁶ “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

Election is the theological term used to label the teaching that God has selected some men for special purposes in Scripture. While the teaching has broader application (and controversy among modern theologians), here the prayer of Jesus is clear. The disciples of Jesus were hand-picked, as it were, by God the Father and given to Jesus the Son. In fact, early in the Upper Room the Lord had told them, “You did not choose Me but I chose you …” (John 15:16). And it was not just the eleven, but also Judas, as we read Jesus telling His disciples, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70). His immediate followers were not volunteers, but chosen by God.

While we cannot let fear of God’s ways and the implications thereof prevent us from seeing the clear stark teachings of certain passages, we certainly should investigate these things further. Although we cannot delve exhaustively into these things here, we can certainly ask questions that will help us ponder with gratefulness our blessings. Yes, the ways of God are beyond our human understanding, but good questions can lead us to amazement and wonder over God’s grace. Why would Jesus have “chosen” Judas, knowing his name would become synonymous with betrayal? Why would He have chosen Thomas, whose propensity to doubt became legendary? Or why Peter, knowing full well that this one, whom Jesus gave the name Peter because of his rock-like expression of faith and loyalty, would deny the Lord three times upon His arrest?

Why did God chose David of Old Testament fame, the King of Israel who became an adulterer and a murderer and a hypocritical worshiper, as the one whose name Jesus would take, being called “the Son of David”?

Why did God choose to not immediately bring the promised death to Adam and Eve (Gen 2:18), but instead to provide animal skins to cover their nakedness? Or why choose Solomon whose many wives turned his heart away from God to worship idols—why use him to pen the inspired books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and a number of the Psalms? Why would God choose to forgive the Ninevites during Jonah’s day?

Yes, God’s choices baffle us, but they speak of His amazing grace. The fact that He chooses should give great comfort to those who are chosen!

Lord God, sovereign overall, You chose to create all that exists according to Your good and perfect will. Though overwhelmed by this truth, I worship You.