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biancalangley
Guest
Why did God choose the Jews? Why did He have a “chosen” people? What about the rest of us?
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athair_siochain
Guest
Why would God choose the Jews???
Why did the Jews chose BARABAS???
Because the Jewish landlords and moneylenders controlled the media, just like they do today…
BARABAS is still chosen today, by the landlords and moneylenders
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John7
Guest
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
But ye (Christians) are
a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood,
an holy nation,
a peculiar people;
that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
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“the Church is the new people of God” Nostra Aetate, POPE PAUL VI
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Garyjohn2
Guest
My fiancee asked me this question a while ago, and was quite upset that God would “choose” a people over another. The Jews are a special people to God, but not in the way you might think…He doesn’t think they are better people than anyone else, or “chosen” in a way that is racist or something.
I explained it this way…Say you had large field, for planting crops, and the field was empty. You put one seed in one corner of the field, to start your garden. That corner would then become special to you, because its different than the rest. It was your “chosen” corner to plant your seed. Now if that plant grows, and flowers, and multiplies itself, the whole field can be blessed and bear fruit, and become special to you. But still, you will remember the original place where you planted the first seed.
God chose to reveal himself first to the Jewish people. They were the little patch where God planted a little seed of faith for it to grow into a huge tree and multiply. The Jewish people is also where Jesus came from. They were chosen for this purpose. Through Jesus, and the apostles, the faith has flowered and multiplied all over the earth, to gentiles as well as Jews. Now that we all share in the faith of God, we are all blessed and special in this regard. Through Christ, the world is redeemed, and not just one small people any more.
Thats my best understanding of it anyways!
I explained it this way…Say you had large field, for planting crops, and the field was empty. You put one seed in one corner of the field, to start your garden. That corner would then become special to you, because its different than the rest. It was your “chosen” corner to plant your seed. Now if that plant grows, and flowers, and multiplies itself, the whole field can be blessed and bear fruit, and become special to you. But still, you will remember the original place where you planted the first seed.
God chose to reveal himself first to the Jewish people. They were the little patch where God planted a little seed of faith for it to grow into a huge tree and multiply. The Jewish people is also where Jesus came from. They were chosen for this purpose. Through Jesus, and the apostles, the faith has flowered and multiplied all over the earth, to gentiles as well as Jews. Now that we all share in the faith of God, we are all blessed and special in this regard. Through Christ, the world is redeemed, and not just one small people any more.
Thats my best understanding of it anyways!
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Della
Guest
Actually, God chosen Abram whom he renamed Abraham to be his prophet in a world filled with pagans worshiping idols. He made a covenant with him and promised him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. The Church has always believed this to mean the inclusion of non-Jews into the covenant. Indeed, there were converts to Judaism who chose to be a part of the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which was fulfilled in Christ.
Even the Apostles preached only to their fellow Jews until God revealed to Peter that the Gentiles were to be included, and called Paul to be the Apostles to the Gentiles. So, God never intended to leave people out. He chose the Jews (the descendants of Abraham) to be faithful to his covenant which culminated in their bringing the Messiah into the world who created a new covenant with the whole world by the shedding of his blood.
Even the Apostles preached only to their fellow Jews until God revealed to Peter that the Gentiles were to be included, and called Paul to be the Apostles to the Gentiles. So, God never intended to leave people out. He chose the Jews (the descendants of Abraham) to be faithful to his covenant which culminated in their bringing the Messiah into the world who created a new covenant with the whole world by the shedding of his blood.
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rdscheirer
Guest
Get a copy of Jeff Cavnis “Great Adventure”. It takes you through the Bible in an orderly manner focused on the Messiah. Abram changed to Abraham (father of nations) is promised family, then nation, then that salvation for all would come through him and his family. In ancient times when a covenant was made between people(s) it implied a family bond which was much more important then than a family bond is now.
(Whenever you’re reading the Bible and there’s a name change it means something significant is going on- Abram-Abraham, Jacob- Israel, Simon- Peter, Saul- Paul.
(Whenever you’re reading the Bible and there’s a name change it means something significant is going on- Abram-Abraham, Jacob- Israel, Simon- Peter, Saul- Paul.
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Todd_Easton
Guest
Judging from their history, it would seems that God chose the Jews to be his chosen people because they were a particularly stubborn people and, though it would take a very, very long time (over a 1000 years) for them to completely abandon their idolatrous ways, once they did He foresaw that they would from then on be His uncompromising witnesses in the world and He foresaw that those few Jews who would accept the Incarnation would become Jesus Christ’s uncompromising witnesses in the world.
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Della
Guest
It certainly was one of their characteristics. I am inclined to think, though that any of us who might have founded a people might have the same experience. Human beings are a rebellious lot no matter their genetics. Yes?
God knew/knows just what will happen, of course. I’m not sure we can say he willed these things in a positive manner, though. For example, he knew Adam and Eve would fall, but he didn’t will them to do so. I know you aren’t saying that, but you know how it is on a public forum, someone is bound to get that impression.
And I am more inclined to credit the Holy Spirit with the Church’s “uncompromising witness” than any personal or national resolve on the part of us human beings. God didn’t choose the Jews so much as he chose a man whose descendants inherited the promises made to him. And we know how children accept the legacy of their parents–they often squander it or don’t appreciate it, which is why God had to keep reminding them of it over and over again. It’s not that the Jews were so special, but rather that they had a special calling from God, but were just as fallible as the rest of us.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
I have read on one of my Jewish sites that God offered the Law to the various races. After reading it most turned Him down. When the Jews heard it was for free they grabbed it without reading it. 
I think God tells them someplace that they were chosen not for any merit of their own. They were the least of the peoples. Thus, what ever was accomplished would be His doing and not attributable to any human assets.
I think God tells them someplace that they were chosen not for any merit of their own. They were the least of the peoples. Thus, what ever was accomplished would be His doing and not attributable to any human assets.
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Bookcat
Guest
“How odd of God to choose the Jew” …to quote a famous line quoted by one my professors…
Jimmy takes it up too…
catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0209bt.asp
Jimmy takes it up too…
catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0209bt.asp
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choy
Guest
God didn’t choose the Jews
Abram was one of the few in the world at his time that was righteous and still believes in the one true God. so God chose Abram who became Abraham. and God made a covenant with Abraham that He will make his descendants as many as the stars in the sky, as the grain of sand on the shore
and this promise is fulfilled when the Jewish descended from Abraham
so when God called upon Abraham, there were no Jewish nation. the Jews were actually the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham
Abram was one of the few in the world at his time that was righteous and still believes in the one true God. so God chose Abram who became Abraham. and God made a covenant with Abraham that He will make his descendants as many as the stars in the sky, as the grain of sand on the shore
and this promise is fulfilled when the Jewish descended from Abraham
so when God called upon Abraham, there were no Jewish nation. the Jews were actually the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham
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