God’s concern for his people

The choice of God

You only have I known

Of all the families of the earth. Amos 3:2

 

Read Deuteronomy 32:3—12

Almost any creature I am familiar with could give me a way of picturing God’s focus upon me, his choice to be my God, his guiding me, his guarding me, his holding me and his affection. It is an eagle whose ways the poet has studied. So an eagle will do it. A strong-beaked hovering eagle with protective wings and steel determination and distant vision. Most often I can think of the shepherd—sheep relationship. Whatever image I turn to, I must make space within it for the picture of deliberate choice, for a relationship in which I am claimed. In which I am recognised. I am cherished. I am not to be discarded. Not left in the howling wilderness. I am not an incidental part of God’s landscape. I am the apple of God’s eye.

 

God my Father, when you address me and show me who you are it is too gracious, too, too full of the milk and honey of kindness. Too sweet. That you should be such a God, that out of all nations you should choose one to love and to know; that you should choose that people for the blessing of all peoples; that you should choose to send among that people one in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and that that one should be himself the new Adam, the renewal of all humanity,^[1] the true God who is the true man; and that I should be found in him! In Christ! And loved as you love your own Son! Who you are is too, too wonderful.

 

 

 

 

^[1] 1 Corinthians 15:45