Today’s Devotional: “God’s Choice: Contrary to Human Reason”

Nobody would have guessed that out of Jesse’s sons, David would be the one God would choose. In fact, they were so certain that they didn’t invite him to the party.

Not even David’s father thought much of him. He called him “the youngest.” This word carries more meaning than simply being the youngest. It also means “least, little, and small.” Therefore, one gets the feeling that David was not only the youngest in years but also the least in his father’s estimation.

Samuel, who usually had a sense of God’s will, was ready to choose Jesse’s oldest boy, Eliab, based on human understanding. He saw that Eliab was a good-looking, strapping young lad, just the type people would automatically look up to.

But appearances are deceptive because they give false impressions and are a façade we put on. Appearances only go so far and are not the basis of God’s choice. God’s divine standard isn’t based on what a person looks like on the outside. There is no “dress for success” in the eyes of God. God looks deeper, into the very heart and soul of a person.

The world is the exact opposite. It covets attractive and talented people. In other words, do they look the part and speak well?

Therefore, as Samuel was about to anoint Eliab with God’s anointing based on human understanding and wisdom, God stepped in and, in a way, rebuked Samuel, revealing God’s method of choosing.

“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7)

God doesn’t look at what man looks at, nor does God consider what man considers. God looks at a person’s heart, not their appearance.