Chosen–For What?

An Ethiopian student was talking to me yesterday about the way many Ethiopians see themselves as belonging to a chosen people–special to God in a way that others are not, the real “holy nation” in today’s world. Other countries might not use the same terminology but the attitude is common across the world. Whether we are Americans, British, or Brazilians, we sometimes think that we are obviously better than other nations.

Israel really was chosen by God, but the problem was, as with the attitudes of the modern nations, that they interpreted this in terms of status. They believed it gave them the right to rejoice in their own importance and to look down on other people.

Isaiah reinforces the concept of election, but makes it very clear that they were chosen not for worldly status, but for service: service to God and service to people. Yes, it was the Lord of glory who had called them, but that glory was his alone; it did not belong to idols nor did it belong to them. They were called to bring justice, to bring light to the Gentiles, who are imprisoned in darkness, so that they, too, might know this glorious God. They were called “in righteousness” (6) to speak of the God of righteousness–in words, but also by their behavior. They were to demonstrate to the world that he was a God who cared about justice and who cared about people. While they sat in splendid isolation, whether bemoaning their own lot or reveling in their own status, they were not functioning as God’s chosen servants.

Think about whether or how you see your nationality, education, the area where you live, or your job as a matter of status or as an opportunity for service. Do you need to make some changes in what you see?