God chose Israel to be a separated, covenant nation through whom He would funnel blessing to all other nations.
God sovereignly set Israel apart, beginning with Abram, to make him a great nation and a blessing to all the earth (Genesis 12:2-3). Israel's unique role was to bring the Gentile nations to a knowledge of their God, though they failed in that mission. God's choice was not based on size or merit but on His sovereign design.
Genesis 12:2-3 — This is the foundational covenant where God promises to make Abram a great nation and a blessing to all the earth.
In Genesis 12:2-3, God establishes His covenant with Abram, saying, "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." This sets the pattern for God's special dealings with Israel. Scripture also reveals that God's choice of Israel was not based on their numbers: "The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people" (Deuteronomy 7:7). The role of Israel was to be a separated people. In Exodus, God describes them as a "kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Exodus 19:6), set apart to mediate His blessings to the world.
Les Feldick teaches that God's choice of Israel was a sovereign act of setting apart a small nation for a unique role in His overall plan for the human race. He emphasizes that God called Abram to start a 'special race of people' — the nation of Israel — and that during the Old Testament period, God's dealings were primarily with Israel ('Jew only'), with rare exceptions. The purpose was to use Israel to funnel blessings and the knowledge of God back to the Gentile nations. However, Israel failed in this mission, rejecting their calling, and in the current dispensation, God turned to the Gentiles. Les also stresses that God never instructed Israel to proselytize the Gentiles directly; instead, Israel's separation was meant to attract and ultimately bless all nations. The covenant with Abraham, including the promises to bless those who bless Israel, remains eternal and unchanged.
God set Israel apart as a distinct, holy nation to be a light to the Gentiles. Les explains that Israel's separation was not for their own exclusive benefit but so that they could eventually bring the other nations to a knowledge of their God. This is why they were called 'the chosen people' and 'the favored nation.'
Although God dealt primarily with Israel, He did make exceptions, such as the city of Nineveh through Jonah, the Syrian general Naaman, Rahab, and Ruth. In the New Testament, Jesus ministered to the Canaanite woman and the Roman Centurion. These exceptions show God's mercy extended beyond Israel even during the period of His special covenant dealings.
God's choice went against human reasoning. Les notes that God didn't choose the largest nation but the smallest, starting with one man, Abram. This demonstrates that God's ways are unlike man's ways — He works through the weak and the few to accomplish His purposes.
The Abrahamic Covenant
Les reads the covenant in Genesis 12:2-3, highlighting that it is eternal and from God to man, making Abram a great nation and a blessing.
Israel's Unique Role
God sovereignly designated Israel as a favored nation to prepare them to bring all other nations to a knowledge of their God.
The Purpose of Israel's Calling
God pulled Israel out of the river of humanity to funnel back to the nations, offering them knowledge of God, an opportunity they rejected.
Israel's Separation
Israel was to remain a separated people with no intermarriage or proselytizing; their distinction was for God's purpose, not evangelism.
God's Choice of the Few
God chose the smallest nation, not the largest, showing His sovereign, non-human approach to selection.
Israel's Place and Replacement
Israel was set aside for a time, and the Gentiles were grafted in, but the promises to Abraham still included blessing all nations.
Exceptions to Israel's Exclusivity
Les lists exceptions like Nineveh, Rahab, Ruth, and Naaman, showing God's mercy to Gentiles during the period of Israel's focus.
Israel's Failure to Reach the Gentiles
Israel became so focused on its special status that it failed to fulfill its mission of bringing the Gentile world to God, leading to their rejection.
Genesis 12:2-3: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This is the foundational covenant where God promises to make Abram a great nation and a blessing to all the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:7: The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
This explains that God's choice of Israel was not based on numbers but on His sovereign love and purpose.
Exodus 19:6: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
God describes Israel's special calling as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, set apart for His purposes.
No. God explicitly chose the smallest nation, not the largest. As Les notes, God didn't work like man; He chose the fewest of all people, starting with one man, Abram.
God never instructed Israel to go out and win Gentiles to their religion. Instead, their separation and covenant relationship were meant to be a testimony, with the purpose of eventually blessing all nations.
No. God's covenant with Abraham included that all families of the earth would be blessed through him. Israel's role was to be a funnel to bring the nations to God's knowledge.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Plan for Israel vs. Gentiles: Understanding the Abrahamic Covenant