Ephesians 1:11-12

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
-Ephesians 1:11-12

I feel like Paul is just repeating himself and saying the same things over and over again.  Paul tells us that "we have obtained an inheritance".  This inheritance is in him.  Who is "him" this time?  I still find it confusing, but I'm going to go with God the Father here.  So, what is this inheritance?  He tell us that it is our having been "predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,".  He decided and chose to predestine us and that is our inheritance.  Why is that good?  Well, we are predestined for "adoption as sons through Jesus Christ" as Paul tells us earlier.  We were also told that he chose us long time ago for the purpose of us being "holy and blameless before him".  These are good things because we know what we were or what we are without this, "and you were dead in your trespasses and sins..." which we'll read later in Ephesians 2.

So, why does God do this?  Why did he choose to give us an inheritance in being predestined?  Looking at verse 12, we see that it's "so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory".  Since he's talking about "first to hope in Christ", I'm assuming that he's now talking about the first converts.  NLT interprets this to say "we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ".  Looking at this now, we realize that what was said earlier here about verse 11 really is only talking about those "first to hope in Christ" (so, not every believer).  In any case, we see a phrase Paul used earlier "to the praise of his glory".  The reason for God doing this is for his glory.  Once again we see God ultimately being for himself and his glory.  Why does he do things?  Yes, he loves us and is working for the good of those who love him.  However, as much as that is true, a reason behind all of this is God's glorifying of himself.