12th.: Choosing the Apostles
From the writer of the Gospel of Luke we learn,
“And it came to pass in those days, that he [Jesus] went out into a mountain to pray,
and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his
disciples, and of them he chose twelve whom also he named apostles.” (Luke 6:12-13).
Picking the right person should not be taken lightly.
Even Jesus spent all night asking God about which of his followers were to be made apostles.
This prayer process was not quick.
Jesus may have mentioned the names of each disciple (not just the twelve picked).
For example, Jesus may have mentioned the name of the Israelite without guile, Nathanael (see John 1:47)?
Yet, Nathanael was not chosen.
But the traitor Judas Iscariot was.
Why pick a traitor? So that Scripture may be filled (Psalm 41:9).
God's choices are not our choices, as they have to be done according to the Scripture, and other reasons.
And we cannot know God's will for us, unless we ask him.
“... the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.” (Pr. 19:21)