By Reading through the Old Testament there is a not-so-sublte lesson on the kinds of people God chooses for His Kingdom. In a culture that gave double honour to the firstborn, it is a real surprise each time God chooses the least instead of the greatest.
Eve bore first Cain, then Abel, but Abel was accepted by the Lord and Cain was rejected.
Abraham had first Ishmael, then Isaac, but Isaac was the son of promise.
Isaac had twins, first Esau was born, then Jacob, but Jacob ended up with the birthright.
Jacob had twelve sons, but it was Joseph, the second youngest of the twelve, who got a double portion of inheritance in the Promised Land (Ephraim and Manasseh). And even there, the younger one, Manasseh got grandfather Jacob’s greater blessing. (Genesis 49)
Aaron was older than Moses, but Moses was God’s chosen leader for Israel.
David was the youngest of eight sons, yet the anointed king of Israel.
Solomon was not David’s firstborn, yet he was the successor.
All the very important men of faith throughout the world’s history were not chosen as men would have chosen. The same is true for you and me.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Consider your calling, be humbled, and boast in the Lord your God!