If God Were the Bachelor

So the other day I was reading Isaiah, which has never been a favorite book of mine. Most people love it, but I struggle with the prophetic books. Nevertheless, I have been wanting to read it so my husband and I embarked on the journey together. After many chapters discussing the destruction of nations, we were a little discouraged. If you know some background on Isaiah, you might know the authorship of the book is debated. Some say it was three authors, while others claim Isaiah, son of Amoz, wrote the whole thing. Regardless, chapters 1-39 basically record the destruction that will set itself upon Judah because of their lifestyles and how they had turned from God. This would take place in the form of exile to Babylon. But chapters 40-55 were prophetic of what would happen during the exile and how God would call them back. It is the beauty of chapter 44 that I want to be the focus for today, check it out:

"But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says-- he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: 'Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurn, whom I have chosen. For I will pour out water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, 'I belong to the Lord'; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, 'The Lord's,' and will take the name Israel'" (Isaiah 44:1-5).

Whew! Can I first point out how amazing of a poet God is? He's quite the wordsmith! Anyway, the point I most want to make is how often God calls this nation that has completely turned from him, his chosen people. They screw up constantly, but he still claims them.

Now here comes the comparison. For some reason, as disappointed as I am with myself for this, I thought of the Bachelorette throughout all this. The season finale is happening or just happened and I couldn't help but think that if God were the Bachelor, his final rose would be for Israel. I know it's bad but bear with me. The people of Israel are God's chosen people. And when you become a Christian and accept Jesus as your savior, you become heirs with Israel (Ephesians 3:6). 

Take a second and breathe that in, would you? How does that feel? As people, we want to feel chosen. Why does the child cry when he is picked last for the team on the playground? Why do we work so hard to fit into social settings? Why do the men cry and moan when the bachelorette sends them home? We humans long to be chosen. The psychologist Abraham Maslow diagrammed in his hierarchy of needs this desire to be chosen. Only the physiological needs (breathing, food, water, etc.) and the need for safety (security, family, health) top this need for acceptance. Until we reach it, we can't move on. Until we feel accepted, we cannot live our lives as we truly were meant to live them.

The beauty of it all is that God, the one who made the clouds, the trees, and the sun, longs to meet that need in you. You don't need to be picked for the sports team or try to win the heart and rose of a woman on national TV, you only need to accept Christ. Let Christ meet this need (and all others for that matter) and know what it truly means to be fulfilled. Never felt good enough? You are chosen by God. Always come in second to the sibling your parents love more? You are chosen by God. Have a boss that never seems to notice or appreciate the work you do? You are chosen by God. Live in that acceptance. Breathe it in. Feel it. Cherish it. God accepts you and loves you. He has chosen you. He has offered you the final rose. But, as with the show, He asks if you'll accept it. He will not force you to accept his rose of salvation. You are free to refuse to be his chosen. He will simply offer his full love and acceptance for you to take or deny. So how about you? Will you accept this rose?