What does it mean that Israel is a special people to God?
Israel is special because God chose that little nation to be the top of the heap, king of the hill in all His dealing with the human race. He did not choose them because they were numerous; they were the fewest, and He chose the smallest group, making them His favored covenant nation.
Les explains that Israel being a special people means God chose that little nation to be the top of the heap and king of the hill in all His dealing with the human race. They are the favored covenant nation of God. But God did not choose them because they were more in number; they were the fewest of all. God does not work like man, where bigger is better. He did not choose the biggest nation on earth or the nation with the highest number of people. He did the opposite, choosing the smallest group, starting with one man. The covenants are one of those seven items Paul has, but here the focus is Israel’s position as the favored covenant nation. Les then moves from Deuteronomy to Isaiah 66:22.
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;