God’s Chosen People As you read the Old Testament, you may wonder, Why did God select the people of Israel as his chosen people? Thats a good question, and one thats not easy to answer. First, God singled out a man named Abram (later Abraham) from the ancient city of Ur and promised to bless him and his descendants ( Gen 12:1-3). But there was a condition attached: Abram had to remain faithful to God. Even though he had numerous lapses, Abram kept his end of the bargain. And God was true to his word, making Abrams descendants into the nation of Israel. Second, God set the stage for his Son, the Messiah, who would be ushered into the world many centuries later. Because God chose to have his Son born of a woman, he needed to provide an appropriate backdrop for the woman and her ancestry. He chose the people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham. Third, it has been suggested that the people of Israel were the perfect display case for Gods mercy and patient love. They were stubborn, rebellious, unfaithful--just like many believers today. No one would have blamed God for giving up on them and starting over with a new nation. But God kept his word to Abraham and never abandoned Abrahams descendants. Although he punished them, scolded them, and sent them into exile, he never forgot them or his promise. Many people today see the existence of the Jews as a powerful argument for the existence of God. In spite of overwhelming opposition throughout history, they are still here, while most of their enemies (at least from Old Testament times) are long gone. How else could they have survived, except for the protection of a powerful, loving God who refused to give up on them? The people of Israel are not the only members of Gods special covenant group. Now, all who follow Christ are Gods chosen people as well. That includes you, right? Amen !
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 05:14:45 +0000
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