Study 39 – Because He Loves You

The Sound of Music – doubtless you remember it. And maybe you recall what the lead actress, Julie Andrews says during the musical when she's reflecting on how well things have turned out for her. In a moment of joyful gratitude she declares, 'I must have done something good'. In other words, 'There's got to be something in the past that's made me worthy of such blessing.' And that's a common idea today – the sense that you get what you deserve in life.

Is grace earned?
No, it isn't! In fact, grace stands in sharp contrast to our expectations and announces, 'I will not only release you from what you deserve but I'll replace it with overwhelming mercy, kindness, covenant loyalty, favour and everlasting blessings beyond your wildest dreams.' Such a notion defies our understanding. Why does God favour us? Why does he commit himself to love us forever?

The response he gave to the Israelites was more of a riddle than an answer (See Deuteronomy 7:6-8 below). Eugene Peterson enlightens us in his lively Message translation; 'He did it out of sheer love'. God chooses his people, treasures them and watches over them. They are his pride and joy. Such intense love is hard for us to comprehend. God loves you because he loves you! It's a mystery that's demands not so much to be analysed as celebrated.

Favoured but tested
Why did God favour Abraham? Was it because he was the most impressive guy around? No. It was because God chose to favour him. This didn't mean that Abraham had an easy ride. Indeed, he was tested from beginning to end, but he was greatly favoured and was even called God's friend.

If you compared Esau with Jacob, you might think that Esau was easily the more favoured. His life was characterised by untroubled prosperity, while Jacob had to go through one trial after another. Jacob had to flee from home; he was cheated by his uncle and apparently lost his sons Joseph and Benjamin. Heartbreak seemed to follow heartbreak, but he developed a huge appetite for fellowship with God and the Lord blessed him. Jacob, the 'Cheat' became Israel, 'Prince with God'. He experienced amazing supernatural encounters and received awesome promises. He even blessed Pharaoh, the king of all Egypt.

Then there was Joseph. He was chosen to receive special grace – which again was far from trouble free. His life was shaped by other people's envy, jealousy, ruthlessness, hurt pride, unrequited lust, anger and injustice. He found himself dumped and forgotten far from home in a foreign prison. But amazingly, he became Pharaoh's Number 2 and the saviour of his own nation. He was called and sustained by grace to the end.

To Meditate On

Our goodness has nothing to do with God's choice.

'The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples … But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers …' (Deut. 7:6-8).

'Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad – in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls – she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated"'
(Rom. 9:10-12).

Food For Thought

Look up the following references:

Joshua 6:25; Judges 13:5; Esther 2:17; Isaiah 45:1; Luke 1:28; Acts 9:15.

Which person would you have chosen and which not? Why?

To Do

Be kind today to someone who really doesn't deserve it.

To Consider

Does testing always accompany God's favour?

Can you think of anyone else in the Bible who was favoured and tested?

How do you respond to testing in your own life?

Be Inspired

The grace of God upon my life is not dependent upon me
On what I have done or deserved
But a gift of mercy from God which has been given unto me
Because of his love, his love for me

It is unending, unfailing, unlimited, unmerited
The grace of God given unto me.

© Judy Pruett – Kingsway's Thankyou Music