Joshua, Deuteronomy, Kings -- words spoken to a chosen people
But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:8-10)
James -- words spoken to a chosen people
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
(Ephesians 1:3-4)
your argument is circumstantial, but the argument of election is by direct testimony of the Word.
does this mean there is no requirement of man? of course not! but the requirement is to walk humbly before Him - so is glorifying my own will in keeping with humility and the sovereignty of God?
to those who have not faith, salvation seems a choice to be made, but to those who have received His grace, it is an unmerited, undeserved gift from heaven, and we being bought by Him do not consider ourselves to have of our own choosing jumped into His shopping cart.