The ongoing wars in the Middle East, between Israel and Iran on the one hand, and Israel and the Palestinians on the other over land ownership have resurrected the question of who the chosen people of God are in the light of the coming of Christ as Saviour of the world.
Many Christians have a strong affinity towards Israel, which is natural as the people of the land where Christ our Saviour was born, preached the gospel, was crucified and died, resurrected, and ascended into heaven.
The Bible in the Old Testament clearly says God chose Israel as His special people, often referring to them as His "treasured possession" or "holy people." This choice wasn't based on their size or strength, but on His love and faithfulness to His covenant with their forefathers.
"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)
"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."
(Exodus 19:5-6)
"But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you." (Isaiah 41:8-9)
"But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen." (Isaiah 44:1)
"And what one nation on earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for himself as a people, and to make a name for himself, and to do great and awesome things for them, by driving out before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt, nations and their gods? And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God."
(2 Samuel 7:23-24) David's prayer reflecting on God's choice
"For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his treasured possession." (Psalm 135:4)
It is very clear in the Old Testament that God chose Israel as His prized possession.
SO, WHERE IS THE DISAGREEMENT?
Now, we know that God does not go back on His word, nor does He break His covenant. So why is there a disagreement amongst Christians on who the chosen people of God are?
Let us carefully look at what the scripture says.
1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.
Notice it does not say, bless Israel, he was speaking to Abraham. (Gen 12:1-3)
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad."
The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:56-58)
"For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God". (Gal 6:15-16)
“For all the promises of God find their yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God.” (2 Cor 1:2)
Please, note that it says “all promises”, not some, but all, find their yes in Christ. So, every single promise not prophesy made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob find their yes in Christ. If this is true, what then happens to those who reject Christ?
Can one receive God’s covenant promise while rejecting the one through whom it is given? Let us see what Paul says in Gal 3:16,
“Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring (seed). It does not say “and to his offsprings,” referring to many; but, referring to one, “And to your offspring,(seed)” which is Christ.
When God told Abraham that his offspring will inherit the land, he was not speaking of his biological offspring, He was referring to Christ. He clarified it in verse 19, since some may argued that the word seed which Paul used could either be singular or plural;
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, till offspring (seed) should come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained by angels through an intermediary. In verse 22, notice those who will benefit. (Gal 3:19,)
“But Scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
What this means is that, no matter your race, colour or ancestry, you stand to benefit from this promise if you have faith in Christ. The corollary is that those who do not believe in Christ are excluded from the promise, weather they are Jews or Gentiles. (Gal 3:22),
“it is the spirit itself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Rom 8:16-17)
There is no other way to access what was promised except through Christ.
Who are Abraham descendants?
“So you see that it is the men of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” (Gal 3:7)
It does not say his biological children, those who share his DNA.
“and not all are children of Abraham because they are his descendants; but Thorough Isaac shall your descendants be named. This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned as descendants.” (Rom 9:7-8)
“Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.” (Gal 4:28)
This is because of our faith in Jesus Christ through whom the promises are given.
“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.” (Rom 9:6)
Now what about the Land? Who owns it?
“These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiled on the land” (Heb 11:13)
“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Heb 11:16)
“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me to tell of Gideon,Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Daniel and of the prophets. (Heb 11:32)
“And all these, although well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised. 40 since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (Heb 11:39)
What all that is saying is that what is promised is not a physical land here on earth, but a heavenly reality. To confirm this, you might have seen some videos recently since the October, 7th 2023 Gaza war, of Jewish Rabbis, where they argue that the Religious Jews will not serve in the IDF, because Jews are not supposed to have a country. They are supposed to be in dispersion as the homeland promised to them by God is in heaven. This is why you have Jews in almost all countries of the world, including Arab/Muslim countries.
+ The total population of Israel today is 9.495 million, 2024 figures. (Isreal Central Bureau of Statistics).
+ The Jewish population: Approximately 7.254 million (about 76.4 percent of the population).
Around 8.5 million Jews live outside of Israel. The largest populations are in the United States (around 6.3 million), France (440,000), Canada (398,000), and the United Kingdom (312,000).
Remember also that God was supposed to be the king of Israel. Israel was not to have an earthly king. (1Sam 8:4-7)
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ra'mah,
and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations.”
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”
The kingdom is where the king resides. Heavenly King, heavenly kingdom. For all who have accepted Christ, our homeland is in heaven.
“For here we have no lasting city, but we see the city which is to come”
“But our Commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phi 3:20) Also see: Act 1:6.
Let us see what Jesus Christ himself has to say in (Mt. 21:33-44)
33 "Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.
34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit;
35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them.
37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.'
39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"
41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." †
42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.”
Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." (Exo 19:5-6)
Notice that this promise of a kingdom of priests and holy nation in the Old law was transferred to the church in the New dispensation. See (1Pt 2:5,9-10)
"and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light".
10 Once you were no people but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.
(1Pt 2:5,9-10)
"and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:5-6)
"and they sang a new song, saying,
"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood, you ransomed men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 and have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth." (Revelation 5: 9-10)
“The sons of those who oppressed you shall come bending low to you; and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”( Isaiah 16:14)
Please, pay attention and note the promise God made to the Jews in (Isaiah 16:14,) and see how it has been flipped in favor of the church, and the condemnation of the Jews who refuse to accept Jesus Christ.
"And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.
'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you. (Rev 3:7-9)
Conclusion
Christ is the new Moses who has come to deliver ALL Peoples from bondage, sin and suffering to the promised land flowing with milk and honey -- heaven. The Church is the New Israel, the chosen people of God, those who have accepted Christ as the promised Messiah. This includes both Jews and Gentiles.