The Chosen Ones
The story of Zarepath is interesting because it contains an ironic twist of providence. The Lord often does things in an unexpected way, and chooses those whom we would never consider. What are His reasons for choosing? Are those He chooses more holy or sincere than others? Let us see. In I Kings 17 1-9, we have God reminding the Israelites not to mix with pagans nor adopt their practices. But of course they are stubborn and go their own way. So the Lord reprimands them through the prophet Elijah, by pronouncing a 3 year famine on the land. To preserve Elijah's life, the Lord sends him to the land of Zarepath in Sidon, to a widow. Talk about irony. Why was the Sidonite chosen for this task? Why not an Israelite widow? Why does God choose those whom He does? Follwing we will see a story of another unlikely choice: the shepherds at Jesus birth.
One year during mid December, a national Christian radio network changed all of its normal programming to Christmas music. Alongside the Christmas songs played, were vignettes focusing on the meaning of Christmas from a Christian perspective. After one of the vignettes, the announcers and studio audience were reminiscing about their past Christmases each recounting their favorite memories, when someone mentioned watching the animated Christmas TV special of the Peanut cartoon, in which one of the characters asked the question, "What is the meaning of Christmas?" For an animated cartoon, the character's response was enlightening; stepping forward, he, Linus, responded with a recitation of the Angel's dialogue with the shepherds in Luke 2:10-14 --
Luke 2:10 … behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
If you recall, Luke said that the shepherds had been "… in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid" (Luke 2:8 – 9). The Shepherds were chosen to witness the birth of the Messiah so they could be the bearer's of Good tidings to those in their country (Luke 2:17). And they were chosen because, as Ellen G. White says, through the silent hours of the night the shepherds kept their watch as they talked together of the promised Saviour and prayed for the coming of the King to David's throne (The Desire of Ages, p. 47). In other words they were considering, talking about and praying for God's promised Messiah. (Italics were added by authors.)
Both the scripture and Ellen White indicate that the shepherds were actively expecting the Messiah, while most others were distracted and unconcerned about spiritual things. Unbeknownst to them, their hearts were hardened by traditions, formalism and legalism.
A similar reason is given for the choosing of the Widow of Zarepath as a refuge for the Prophet Elijah. Christ says in Luke 4:23–27 that Elijah was without honor in Israel . The Lord sent Elijah away from Israel to a pagan land to find safety there.
Ellen G. White says the prophets or servants whom God had chosen for a special work, "were not allowed to labor for a hardhearted and unbelieving people. But those with hearts to feel and faith to believe were especially favored with evidences of His power…. In the days of Elijah, Israel had departed from God, clinging to their sins, they rejected the Holy Spirit's warnings through His messengers. Thus they cut themselves off from the channel by which God's blessing could come to them. This is why the Lord passed by the homes of Israel , and found a refuge for His servant in a heathen land, with a woman who did not belong to the chosen people. But this woman was favored because she had followed the light she had received, and her heart was open to the greater light that God sent her through His prophet" (The Desire of Ages, p. 238).
We can conclude, thus, that in each case the chosen are those who are eagerly and humbly listening to the Lord, and who are willing to follow what He says. They may not be the ones we would expect; however, they are the most willing. Are you willing? Are you listening?
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Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com
