Why are Jewish people God's chosen people?

Question

Two things here. Firstly, surely God won't have favourites? And secondly, if Israel is the promised land why is it such a barren place? Wouldn't it have been better if God gave the Jews .... say .... the south of France and a little bit of northern Italy? Better climate, easier farming, but best of all no Arabs.

Answer 1

Technically, the Judeo/Christian God chose Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-5). Abraham is the father of Israel. According to the Hebrew Bible, Israel's character as the chosen people is conditioned by obedience to God's commandments. "Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people. For all the earth is mine: and you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5, 6). "The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all people; but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your ancestors." (Deuteronomy 7:7, 8).

The obligation imposed upon the Israelites is emphasized by the prophet Amos (Book of Amos 3:2): "You only have I singled out of all the families of the earth: therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities." This idea is also expressed in Deuteronomy 14:2: "You are a holy people unto the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth."

Of course there are many other people who also claim to be the "chosen people" but don't take my word for it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chosen_people

Answer 2

The reason the Jews were the Chosen people is because, They were the first to believe in one God. When God gave the Jews Israel it was a lush and beautiful place. The reason that Israel seem so barren now is because, they were taken over by the Romans. The Romans would salt the Earth. Why I'm not sure. I think it's a case of "we beat you! Now we'll make your land not fit for anything to live!" Also there was a King that put a tax on trees. So the trees were cut down so they wouldn't have to pay taxes.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, that little word "chosen" has been widely misinterpreted to somehow suggest a favored status. At the time of Abraham, most people were polytheist and worshiped idols and numerous gods. Jews were chosen *only* to spread the word of monotheism -- nothing else.

By the way, the former Prime Minster of Israel, Golda Meir, agrees with you about the land and there's a quote from her where she asks Hashem (God) that out of all the lands in the Middle East, why did He have to choose the one spot that held no oil!

Answer 4

You wrote, "Why are Jewish people God's chosen people?"
The Jewish people are not the chosen people of God. They are going around saying this and people like yourself are believing them.

Everyone that accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as God's Saviour is a chosen one. They are of the seed of Abraham the father of many nations.

You need time daily in the Word of God. Right now would be fine.

The promise land is where your feet are standing on at this moment. All of the land belongs to God. Don't rely on what someone said or what someone wrote. Check it all out in the Word of God and let that be your judge.><>

Answer 5

1. The present Israelis and Jews are not the chosen.
That quality was lost.
However, even after they rejected Jesus, and he was sacrificed, the Way was offered to them first, then to the Gentiles.

2. At the time of Moses, the promised land was the 'land of milk and honey'.

Answer 6

God does play favorites. Ask any Canaanite. Israel isn't as barren as you seem to think it is. The Arabs only arrived in large numbers during the 1917 Uprising against the Ottoman Turks. Their claims to have been there for thousands of years are lies.

Answer 7

I don't want to step out on a limb so I will start out saying this is an opinion.
I usually do research before answering when I am not sure.
I believe that God chose the Jews to Introduce himself to mankind, Because civilization as we know it started in that area of the world.
If you research it, Israel and that area of the world was not always so barren.
That is as far as I am going before I research it more.

Answer 8

They have a very old written language. Other people who were god's Chosen didn't leave written record, or thought that it was so obvious it need not be mentioned. Add the the fact that Jews kill or otherwise destroy anyone who disagrees with them...

The Cherokee say that when they were created they were put in the very best spot in the world in which to live, the southern mts. of the US.

Answer 9

first of all israel are not gods chosen people
second god didnt give israel this land
this is the palistenes land and jewish people are occupying it
and yeah we wish that they take northern italy and south of france by the way its not a better climate
and best of all the middle east will be israel free ( jewish free)
and we will be all leaving in peace without the terrorist state of israel
and at last and by the way muslims are gods chosen people

Answer 10

why do we all think we are the chosen ones?

after my grandma died, I talked to my siblings, and we found out we had all been played, hard.

Grama had told each of us secretly that we was her favorite, or she choose us above others and we gave her special attention and sent gifts etc.

maybe she got played and became wise with age and played us

but the idea of promised lands, chosen people and holy nations or holy priests and special people have caused wars, promoted inequality

let one earthquake hit any part of the world and I'll show you the great equallizer...all are affected, no one is protected by 'god' or angels...no chosen ones among the carnage...every TIME