Choosing teams in school yard games may or may not bring back happy memories. If you were gifted at those games, you were probably one of the first to be picked. If you were not particularly talented, then you might feel a little twinge of sadness and maybe even embarrassment remembering being the last one chosen. No one likes to be the last one chosen, and no one wants to be left out completely.

There are three instances in the Bible that immediately come to my mind of those who were not chosen. There are probably more, but these are especially interesting to me.

During the time that the judges ruled over Israel, we read about Gideon and a special task given to him by God. He was instructed to go into battle against the Midianites, but the Lord told Gideon he had too many in his army. The Lord wanted Gideon to reduce the number so that Israel wouldn’t say that they had defeated the Midianites on their own (Judges 7:2).

Gideon was told to allow anyone who was afraid to return home. Twenty-two thousand men left, and ten thousand remained to go into battle. This was still too many, so the army was sent to the river. The Lord told Gideon to have them drink water from the river. Those that kneeled to drink were to be left behind. Those that lapped the water like a dog would be the army he should take into battle. Gideon’s army consisted of three hundred men. How do you think the nine thousand seven hundred men felt?

The second story is found in First Samuel 16. A man named Jesse had eight sons. The Lord spoke to Samuel and told him it was time to choose a new king for Israel. Samuel’s task was to choose from these eight sons the man who would replace King Saul.

Jesse started with his oldest son, Eliab. The Lord told Samuel, “I have rejected him” (First Samuel 16:7). The Lord told Samuel that He was interested, not in his appearance, but in the heart of the man to be chosen. Jesse called Abinadab, but the Lord did not choose him. Next Jesse brought Shammah to Samuel, but the Lord also rejected him. Jesse continued to bring four more sons to Samuel, but none of these men were suitable to God. Finally, David was brought to Samuel; God told Samuel to anoint him in front of all his brothers. Do you wonder what these seven brothers thought?

The third rejection takes place in Acts 1. The apostles were gathered in Jerusalem, where they watched as Jesus was taken into heaven. Now the task for them was to find a replacement for Judas.

The qualifications were that the new apostle must have been with the others from the time John was baptizing in the Jordan, and he must have been a witness with the apostles of Jesus’ resurrection. Two men were selected, Justus and Matthias. The disciples prayed, asking the Lord to give them guidance. They cast lots, and Matthias was the one chosen. Do you wonder why Justus wasn’t chosen?

Now let’s look at why twenty-seven thousand five hundred soldiers, seven brothers, and one close to the apostles were not chosen. In the case of the soldiers, we know that all but ten thousand were afraid. They may have been good men, but their fear kept them from the final selection. They didn’t have the courage to be considered for battle. David’s seven brothers didn’t have the kind of heart that God wanted to rule His people. We see this in First Samuel 17 when David is sent by his father to check on his brothers as they served in King Saul’s army. Eliab became angry and accused David of being prideful. It is obvious that Eliab’s heart was not what it should have been. The situation was different with Justus. He was selected by his peers, but for some reason he didn’t measure up to the standards God set. When they prayed and asked for God’s help, God allowed the lot to be cast for Matthias.

In everyday life, there are just times when we aren’t suitable for some particular task or service. Maybe we aren’t properly trained, don’t have the right experience, or we don’t happen to fit with others that are involved.

In the matter of eternal life, it is different. Paul says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV). The chosen ones are the obedient, those who wear the name of Christ, Christians. Paul told the Thessalonian Christians, “…God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (First Thessalonians 2:13-14).

If we want to be chosen, we must be obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must not be afraid to do God’s will, and we must have a heart of obedience and submission to God’s will. Not being chosen for eternal life will be disastrous since there will be no second chance. The opportunity is open to all; but Jesus said, “…for many are called, but few chosen” (Matthew 20:16 KJV).

Sandra Oliver