That's certainly the impression given in the old testament
2006-09-04 09:23:16 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That's pretty much it. The god of the OT was the tribal god of a podunk group of bedouine. If they hadn't come up with the brilliant idea of writing all that crap down, he would have been long forgotten.
2006-09-04 09:26:08 · answer #1 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The Old Testament does focus on the Jews, and yes, they are God's chosen people. But have you missed the parts of the Old Testament which express God's blessing upon and love for all people (Genesis 22:17, 18 for example). The Old Testament also clearly indicates that God would bring forth the Messiah so that all men could be saved from their sins.
If you read the New Testament--well, it is obvious there how God feels about everyone.
2006-09-04 09:31:44 · answer #2 · answered by hisnamesaves 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not that exactly. In the Old Testament, that's the way it was.. the jews were the ones that He chose to make the world a better place. They were supposed to be diamonds in the rough but the priests got 'big heads' and they influenced the rest of the jews into straying onto the wrong path and that's where it all went wrong. The Jews rejected God. Then when Jesus came a long, He gave them another chance.
2006-09-04 09:28:56 · answer #3 · answered by helpme1 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Being chosen didn't mean they received special treatment. Israel recieves mostly punishment for being the 'chosen people'. They only have 3 kings before the country splits into Judah and Israel. Israel gets taken away by Assyria, never to recover. Judah gets taken away to Babylon, but makes it back home eventually. In 70 AD the whole country is sacked and destroyed by the Roman Empire. It took 19 centuries for them to get any of that land back, and you only have to watch the news to see how that is working out for them.
The real reason the Jews were the 'chosen' people is that from their descendants would rise the true King, the Messiah, the king who's reign would not end, and who's power would overcome even the mightiest of foes.
2006-09-04 09:35:32 · answer #4 · answered by marklin1972 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God "chose" the Israelites for special obligations -- NOT for special rewards. If you haven't noticed, the "Old Testament" is about the people, Israel. The 613 commandments apply to the people, Israel. Non-Jews are bound by only seven Noahide laws.
You are more than welcome to join us in our observance of more than 200 commandments. The circumcision will heal before you know it!
For HisNameSaves: The messiah is not meant "that all men could be saved from their sins." The messiah will be a great leader (human) who will bring peace on earth. You can tell from the state of the world that he will be here any day now....
2006-09-04 09:34:24 · answer #5 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Israelites WERE God's chosen people. He was in a covenant relationship with them. He set down the covenant in the laws and all they had to do was to follow them. They would not, could not, and did not. God eventually divorced Himself from them and set out to bring a better covenant for ALL mankind, through His son Jesus Christ. In His body, you will find two sets of people...all of faithful Israel of old, and all faithful Christians. This is the mystery of the two bodies within ONE, spoken about by the Apostle Paul.
God would that NO person would be lost. He is longsuffering and holds back the 2nd coming of Christ in order to allow time for you and me to get our life straight and be IN His son, as a family member of God.
He cares for ALL people. So, you see your question was not quite right to begin...If Jews WERE God's chosen people, then who are His people NOW?
The answer is all those who have made His son their one and only saviour and have put Him on in baptism, walking faithful as children of God from that day foreward. ANYONE can do it, but will anyone do it?
2006-09-04 09:43:21 · answer #6 · answered by DA R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Jews were given the spoken Word of GOD. They were to be beacons for the other nations around them. The same is true for Christians. Same message of salvation.
2006-09-04 09:24:47 · answer #7 · answered by Exodus 20:1-17 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The same message is shared also by muslims and christians..but no one of them say this message belongs just to some group: God´s message is for everyone...
Of course, Jews believes they are the "choosen" people...and that wrong idea has lead to wars and racism...
2006-09-04 09:30:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you do get that impression, but Matthew 28:19 says "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. "
Also, Acts 1:8 reads, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Jesus gave the Jews the first chance to come to Him, but when they refused Him, He told His disciples to tell the rest of the world so that WE could receive Him.
2006-09-04 09:29:46 · answer #9 · answered by lovergirl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God gave the Jews the covenant with Abraham. Jesus gave his people a new and everlasting covenant. It did not negate, however, the original covenant. The Jews that abide by their laws will be saved just as the Christians are.
2006-09-04 09:27:42 · answer #10 · answered by DMBthatsme 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Do you know that at the beginning of creation, everyone was Jewish? We are all descended from Jews, which makes all of us God's chosen people, and not just the ones who practice the Jewish religion. God loves us all -- even atheists!
2006-09-04 09:32:11 · answer #11 · answered by gldjns 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋