Of course the Jews don’t say they are special. The Jews say they were chosen. That’s very different."What made the Israelites so special as a people...?"
It was the Jews who declared themselves special, wasn't it?
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Of course the Jews don’t say they are special. The Jews say they were chosen. That’s very different."What made the Israelites so special as a people...?"
It was the Jews who declared themselves special, wasn't it?
The Jews aren’t special. They are chosen and a peculiar people. Big difference.
The Jews aren’t special. They are chosen and a peculiar people. Big difference.
God made them special, they were few and stubborn and that's how God decided to begin to display His glory
"“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." Deut 7:6-8
"“Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people." Debt 9:6
The emphasis in on God, God's mercy and God's sovereign choice
God made them special, they were few and stubborn and that's how God decided to begin to display His glory
"“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." Deut 7:6-8
"“Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people." Debt 9:6
The emphasis in on God, God's mercy and God's sovereign choice
That all depends on which Jews of Israel your referring to.
That all depends on which Jews of Israel your referring to.
Generally speaking... They may have been more suited to be first for some reason (as various peoples have various traits and tendencies), but that is what they were chosen to be -first among all (not above all).
The Israel of God can refer to the church in the New Testament
And God opens some peoples hearts... so... true...
My experience with Jewish people has been very positive. They seem very family oriented and also have a high view of justice and fairness. But all people are fallen.. some nearer and some farther from God and all in need of salvation. They are it's fair to say 'special'
We have examples of worshippers of God like Lydia or Cornelias in the new testament (not Jewish) but close to God and in some manner commended by God but still falling short and needing redemption
From a strictly non-religious pov:
God proved it by executing judgments on the Egyptian gods. The two most powerful magicians of Egypt Jannes and Jambres** could not stand up against Moses and the boils broke out on them also; proving they were confronted with superior power and might.
Nothing made them "so special," except in the revisionist histories of those who adopted their religious beliefs as the seed for their own.
IMO, the belief in the [one] "God of Abraham" that Judaism has maintained for at least 3 thousand years now.
The fact that it was the Israelites writing the story.
Yes, but you see, that is religious belief, not history.I am wondering which revisionist histories.
History shows me that only the ancient nation of ancient Israel had the Constitution of the Mosaic Law contract.
That Law was based on God's promise to father Abraham as per Galatians 3:8; Genesis 18:18.
So, through an offspring (descendent) of Abraham would come the promised ' seed ' or Messiah.
It was that promised ' seed ' (offspring) that was "so special" because through Jesus as Messiah ALL families of Earth will be blessed, and ALL nations of Earth will be blessed. Blessed with the special benefit of 'healing' coming for earth's nations as written at Revelation 22:2.
Yes, but you see, that is religious belief, not history.