Across the ocean, in the Middle East, is the nation of Israel. The nation itself is roughly the size of New Jersey, yet this nation has played and will continue to play an important role in world history. Throughout the Bible, the Israelites are referred to as God’s chosen people. If you are new to the faith or even if you are not, you might wonder why God chose Israel to be his chosen people? I mean, what is so special about Israel that makes them different from any other nation? The term itself could make it seem as if God surveyed all the nations of the earth and said, that is the one I will choose. This is not exactly how it happened, but the fact that they are called the chosen people of God forces you to ask yourself why did God choose Israel to be his chosen people? I hope that these reasons that I share with you help you understand this a little better.
1. God did not choose a nation; he chose a man.
Often when you think of Israel, you think in terms of a nation of people, which is what they are now, but that’s not what they always were. When you read the book of Genesis, one thing you’ll notice is that there is no nation of Israel, that’s because it didn’t exist. For a moment I want you to consider not a nation but a man. The beginning of God’s promise to this nation did not begin when they became a nation, it began with one man, Abraham.
The Lord had said to Abram: Go from your land, your people and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
“I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will magnify your name
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and those who curse you, I will curse;
and to all the peoples of the earth
they will be blessed in you.” – Genesis 12:1-3
From this promise you see that God did not choose a nation, He chose a man and built a nation out of this man. The reason I point this out is because it’s not like God chose Israel at random, he made Israel a great nation and God in doing this was fulfilling a promise he made to Abraham. This does not make Israel any more special; it makes God more special because it fulfills his promises. When you think of the nation of Israel, even the very land Israel sits on, let it be a reminder that when God says something, he will do it. The Israelites were God’s chosen people because they represent God’s faithfulness to Abraham and that he keeps his word.
The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him: “Look around you from where you are, north and south, east and west. All the land you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. – Genesis 13:14-15
2. God needed a group to represent his character on earth.
One of the reasons God chose Israel as his chosen people is because he needed someone to uphold his standards on earth.
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called him from the mount and said to him: This is what you will say to the descendants of Jacob and what you will say to the people of Israel. : ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried them on eagle’s wings and brought them to myself. Now if you fully obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my most precious possession among all the nations. Although mine is all the earth, you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.” – Exodus 19:3-6
One of God’s purposes for Israel was that they be a people who would obey him and keep his covenants. By doing this, they would be God’s representatives on earth. Israel would be a model of God’s way of life for the nations around her. If you look at the covenant that was made, it was a conditional covenant. If they decided to abandon God’s laws and walk in disobedience, which they often did, they would lose many of the blessings and privileges that God offered them. However, the point remained that God’s desire would be for this nation to be a holy nation set apart for His purpose.
But you are a chosen lineage, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special heritage of God, so that you may announce the virtues of him who called you out of darkness into his admirable light. You in another time were not a people, but now you are God’s people; in another time you had not obtained mercy, but now you have obtained mercy. – 1 Peter 2:9-10
Fortunately, God’s promise did not stop with the nation of Israel. His faithfulness to keep his Word is not only true for Israel, it is true for you. If you have put your trust in Christ as your savior, then you are now God’s special possession. You have been called out of darkness and God has saved you so that you can be a light that leads people to Jesus. Like Israel, before we were not a people, but now we are the people of God. Now it is our responsibility to uphold God’s standard on earth. The beautiful thing is that this promise, like the one God made to Abraham, will endure forever. May not only the nation of Israel be a reminder, but may the cross of Calvary be a reminder forever that God is faithful and that he keeps his word. What he has said he will do. Why did God choose Israel as his chosen people? Ultimately, the cross of Calvary and Jesus dying on it is the reason, and it is because of that very cross, that God chose you to be his special possession.