What is “The Chosen People”? Do the Jews Benefit from It? Do They Have a Choice?? — Bible Answers

The “Chosen People” is assumed to be taken from the Bible. Therefore, it seems appropriate to refer to the Bible for accurate description of what it means to be God’s “Chosen People”, and, no less important, to learn how the Jews “benefit” from being the “Chosen People”, and whether they have a choice at all to cease being so.

The Bible, in its totality, is incredibly specific and accurate answering all these questions.

We start with a single verse from the Bible that, we believe, best answers the first two questions (What is “Chosen People”?; What is the “benefit”?). It is taken from prophet Amos (3:2):

“רַק אֶתְכֶ֣ם יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִכֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה עַל־כֵּן֙ אֶפְקֹ֣ד עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כָּל־עֲו‍ֹנֹֽתֵיכֶֽם:”

“Only you did I know of all the nations of the earth; therefore, I will visit upon you all of your iniquities.”

In a single verse, in so many as thirteen Hebrew words, the prophet asserts explicitly why the Jewish nation is “Chosen”, and what it entails.

• The Jewish nation is “Chosen” because: “Only you did I know of all the nations of the earth;”
• The “benefit” to the Jewish people: “Therefore, I will visit upon you all of your iniquities.”

In other words, you, the Jewish people, keep the covenant with God, or else…

What covenant?

The Jewish nation has a covenant with Jehovah God:

• Isaiah (43:10,12; Bold not in the Bible):

“You are My witnesses,” says Jehovah, “and My servant whom I chose,” in order that you know and believe Me, and understand that I am He; before Me no god was formed and after Me none shall be.”

“I told and I saved, and I made heard and there was no stranger among you, and you are My witnesses,” says Jehovah, “and I am God”.

• Leviticus (19:1-2; Bold not in the Bible):

“And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the entire congregation of the Children of Israel, and say to them, holy shall you be, for I, Jehovah, your God, am holy.”

Question: What “being holy” requires?

Answer: Keeping the highest moral standards, as specified in The Ten Commandments and derivatives, and as specified in some detail in Leviticus, Chapter 19 (as quoted above), and elsewhere in Torah. (see also “Becoming Holy” — The Bible Prescription).

Question: What would occur if the Jewish people decided to cease serving as “The Chosen People”, as “Witnesses”, and violate the covenant with Jehovah?

Answer: Prophet Ezekiel does not mince his words, delivering his historic stern warning to the Jewish people (Ezekiel 20:32,33):

“But that which comes unto your mind shall be not, that you are saying, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the families of the lands, to serve wood and stone.’  As I live, says Jehovah God, if not with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with poured out fury will I be king over you.” (see also Four Major Bible Messages).