Why the Jews?

[Lostwords]

Why did God pick one people group to associate himself with in the old testament?

Does the fact that he never gave any of the other nations a chance mean they all go to hell?

 

[General Mung Beans]

Why did God pick one people group to associate himself with in the old testament?

Does the fact that he never gave any of the other nations a chance mean they all go to hell?

Hmm there are two theories as to your last question:

1) This theory is that yes until Jesus came to Earth only those who followed the Law and Jewish religion could be saved or 2) Up until Jesus came, God did save other people who never heard of the Lord.

 

[Lostwords]

It would be rather sad if the first option were true.. Never even being given the chance to know God, and then being tormented forever?

Number 2 makes more sense in my head, but are there any passages to back up either theory?

And could there be any truth to the (catholic?) idea that Jesus ministered to the lost souls of the old testement after he died?
I always thought of that idea as unlikley, but I never thought about this concept very hard until now.

 

[desmalia]

Why did God pick one people group to associate himself with in the old testament?

Does the fact that he never gave any of the other nations a chance mean they all go to hell?

I'm sure some of the regulars in this section will have a more detailed answer for you. A few thoughts from me:

God chose Israel according to His preordained plan. All that God chooses is according to His perfect nature, plan, and for His glory. Israel was a small and weak people. The surrounding nations could not mistake God's power for theirs. That's no coincidence.

The Bible tells us that He has revealed us in the world around us. A term often used for that is "general revelation". The Bible is also clear that no man is without excuse. Man willfully and defiantly rejects God. Even many of the Israelites who saw God perform incredible miracles still turned away to false idols instead. Also, note that throughout the Old Testament there are examples of gentiles who did believe.

When you look at all of the Israelites throughout the Bible it's clear that even right from the beginning it was only a remnant who were truly faithful to God. While He chose Israel to fulfill His plan, simply being of the "right" bloodline was no "guarantee" of salvation.

 

[edie19]

I'm sure some of the regulars in this section will have a more detailed answer for you. A few thoughts from me:

God chose Israel according to His preordained plan. All that God chooses is according to His perfect nature, plan, and for His glory. Israel was a small and weak people. The surrounding nations could not mistake God's power for theirs. That's no coincidence.

The Bible tells us that He has revealed us in the world around us. A term often used for that is "general revelation". The Bible is also clear that no man is without excuse. Man willfully and defiantly rejects God. Even many of the Israelites who saw God perform incredible miracles still turned away to false idols instead. Also, note that throughout the Old Testament there are examples of gentiles who did believe.

When you look at all of the Israelites throughout the Bible it's clear that even right from the beginning it was only a remnant who were truly faithful to God. While He chose Israel to fulfill His plan, simply being of the "right" bloodline was no "guarantee" of salvation.

I think you've got it

 

[JCFantasy23]

Why did God pick one people group to associate himself with in the old testament?

Does the fact that he never gave any of the other nations a chance mean they all go to hell?

There is no 'fact' that he never gave other nations a chance. It is stated in scripture that the Word is meant to spread and all have a chance at salvation, we all become children of God if we go to Him.

 

[Lostwords]

There is no 'fact' that he never gave other nations a chance. It is stated in scripture that the Word is meant to spread and all have a chance at salvation, we all become children of God if we go to Him.

When Nineva heard that they could be saved, they converted imediatly.

So obviously they didn't know beforehand.

They also had a solid reputation of being immoral and evil, so based on that I think it's safe to assume that there were peoplewho lived and died before Jonah was able to reach them.

 

[JesusFreak78]

Why did God pick one people group to associate himself with in the old testament?

Does the fact that he never gave any of the other nations a chance mean they all go to hell?

The best answer I can give comes from the bible.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8
6 For you are a holy people to Jehovah your God. Jehovah your God has chosen you to be His own treasure out of all the people on the face of the earth.
7 Jehovah did not set His love on you or choose you because you were more in number than any people, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
8 But because Jehovah loved you, and because He kept the oath which He swore to your fathers, Jehovah has caused you to go out with a strong hand, and redeemed you from the house of slaves, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

 

[notreligus]

I'm sure some of the regulars in this section will have a more detailed answer for you. A few thoughts from me:

God chose Israel according to His preordained plan. All that God chooses is according to His perfect nature, plan, and for His glory. Israel was a small and weak people. The surrounding nations could not mistake God's power for theirs. That's no coincidence.

The Bible tells us that He has revealed us in the world around us. A term often used for that is "general revelation". The Bible is also clear that no man is without excuse. Man willfully and defiantly rejects God. Even many of the Israelites who saw God perform incredible miracles still turned away to false idols instead. Also, note that throughout the Old Testament there are examples of gentiles who did believe.

When you look at all of the Israelites throughout the Bible it's clear that even right from the beginning it was only a remnant who were truly faithful to God. While He chose Israel to fulfill His plan, simply being of the "right" bloodline was no "guarantee" of salvation.

Good answer.

What I question is not so much God's selection of Israel, but what responsibility did Israel have to witness and bring others to salvation. The Old Testament concept of salvation speaks more to temporal blessings than to eternal blessings. Besides certain calls given to certain individuals like Jonah, was Israel to be more than just a light? I've asked contemporary Jewish people about this and they claim to have no such call to recruit others to follow Judaism and believe in their God.

 

[sealacamp]

Why did God pick one people group to associate himself with in the old testament?

Does the fact that he never gave any of the other nations a chance mean they all go to hell?

Have you read the bible at all? Read it and then rethink your second question. After you get finished I think you will see that this is not a valid question.

Ok I was going to leave my answer at that but I see that my brethren either don't know about certain passages or they have overlooked them. So let me help you out here.

“Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say,
‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’

“I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord,
who serve him and love his name,

But I will restore the fortunes of Moab
in days to come.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”

But I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites
in days to come.
I, the Lord, have spoken.”

But I will restore the fortunes of Elam
in days to come.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Sealacamp

 

[PROPHECYKID]

Good answer.

What I question is not so much God's selection of Israel, but what responsibility did Israel have to witness and bring others to salvation. The Old Testament concept of salvation speaks more to temporal blessings than to eternal blessings. Besides certain calls given to certain individuals like Jonah, was Israel to be more than just a light? I've asked contemporary Jewish people about this and they claim to have no such call to recruit others to follow Judaism and believe in their God.

The original calling of Israel was to be the medium through which God was to save the world. I think desmalia answered the original question really well. What I would add is that God did not intend just to have a people so at the end of the day he would have folks to save. His intention has always been to save all mankind. But its only by using mankind can he save mankind. He first reached out to Abraham and told him his plan and Abraham accepted. Then came the nation of Israel who was supposed to be light bearers and a testimony to the world about God. If you know, back in those days the battles fought were not only physical battles but they had spiritual implications as well. When a nation won a battle it would be seen as that nation's god being superior to the other nations God. This is one way in which Israel was to manifest their God to the world. The problem with Israel was the the opposite happened. They constantly were influenced by the nations around them that God's wishes to save the world could not be complete. That is the only reason they were chosen. They failed constantly. Now God wants to use the church to fulfill this purpose since the Jews now reject him. Abraham's seed is supposed to now be God's medium to save the world. Abraham's seed is defined in the following..

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Now God uses those who believe in him to tell others about him. It is obvious because he cannot use the Jews who rejected him. He must use those who accept him.

 

[SolomonVII]

God chose the Jews to reveal his plan of redemption to the world. As God redeemed Israel from the bondage of sin and slavery, so he will redeem all of us.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

So is Israel still chosen for this purpose?

 

[Rosalila]

^Perhaps a remnant. . .the Jews for Jesus for example. They're evidence that God never breaks promises. And we know that through Jesus we have become adopted Jews.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

^Perhaps a remnant. . .the Jews for Jesus for example. They're evidence that God never breaks promises. And we know that through Jesus we have become adopted Jews.

Correct is right.