Why did Israelites believe hey were gods chosen people?

Answer 1

Jewish Answer

In Judaism, the phrase 'chosen' does not mean that we think that we are better than anyone else or have an elevated status before God. What 'chosen' refers to is that we were chosen to keep the Torah. What most people don't know is that according to Jewish teachings, God actually offered the Torah to every other nation before the Israelites but we were the only ones to accept it without question.

Judaims teaches that there are different paths to God and Judaism is the path for Jews. The Torah provides the guidelines for the Jewish path.

Non-Jewish Answer

God has spoken to them and chosen them, as stated explicitly.

"The Lord did not set His heart upon you or choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples---indeed, you were the fewest of all peoples---but it was because the Lord favored you ..." (Deut. 7:7-8)

"I will make of you a great nation ... and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you" (Gen. 12:2-3). God's covenant with Abraham is narrated in Genesis 17, and the contractual agreement in which the people of Israel agree to keep God's law (Ex. 19-24) is foreshadowed in God's musing: "Since Abraham is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to bless themselves by him; for I have singled him out, that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of the Lord, by doing what is just and right" (Gen. 18:18-19).

Answer 2

There are three reasons that Israel is called God's chosen people:

1) because they were chosen by God to be the nation through which the promised Messiah would come to save mankind. They were given special status as the descendants of Abraham, because Abraham belived God's promise that he himself would have a son and that that son would be the forefather of the nation that would bear the Messiah.

Isaiah 41:8

"But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The

descendants of Abraham My friend.

2) They were chosen to keep the oracles of God, i.e. the Torah and the writings of the prophets (a.k.a the Tenakh or Old Testament) and to preserve them (Romans 3:2)

3) and to be the ones to keep His precepts or Laws as commanded to them by Moses to demonstrate righteousness to the nations.

Neh 9:14

"You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, And commanded them

precepts, statutes and laws, By the hand of Moses Your servant."

Answer 3

In Judaism, the phrase 'chosen' does not mean that we think that we are better than anyone else or have an elevated status before God. What 'chosen' refers to is that we were chosen to keep the Torah, that is it. What most people don't know is that according to Jewish teachings, God actually offered the Torah to every other nation before the Israelites but we were the only ones to accept it without question.

Judaism teaches that there are different paths to God and Judaism is the path for Jews. The Torah provides the guidelines for the Jewish path.

Answer 4

Because their religious texts say that God told them they were.
Answer 2
God chose Abraham (Genesis 12:2), the founder of Judaism, because Abraham chose God first. Surrounded by idolaters, he taught and practiced ethical Monotheism for decades before receiving the slightest sign from God.

Later, his Israelite descendants chose God by leaving the fertile Nile delta of Egypt into a barren wilderness (Jeremiah 2:2) in order to serve Him, and He responded by giving them his covenant(Exodus ch.19).

Note that God's implied praise did not mean that the Israelites could ever sit back and preen themselves. On the contrary, it carried great responsibility (Amos 3:2).

Answer 5

The Israelites didn't believe they were God but they were God's chosen people.

God chose the nation of Israel to be His representatives on earth. God made an agreement/covenant with Israel, if they obeyed Him He would bless them as a nation. The covenant is recorded in the Old Testament:

"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people . . ." (Exodus 19:5).

"Then all the people answered together and said, 'All that the Lord has spoken we will do' " (Exodus 19:8).

Answer 6

Each nation or independent city in ancient times had its national god, whom the people believe had chosen them and would look after their interests. The Israelites believed that God had chosen them.

Answer 7

God chose Abraham (Genesis 12:2), the founder of Judaism, because Abraham chose God first. Surrounded by idolaters, he taught and practiced ethical Monotheism for decades before receiving the slightest sign from God. Later, his Israelite descendants chose God by leaving the fertile Nile delta of Egypt into a barren wilderness (Jeremiah 2:2) in order to serve Him, and He responded by giving them his covenant (Exodus ch.19).

Note that God's implied praise did not mean that the Israelites could ever sit back and preen themselves. On the contrary, it carried great responsibility (Amos 3:2).

See also the Related Links.

Link: The founding of Judaism

Link: God's covenant

Answer 8

It's written in the Torah (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 26:16-19) which God gave (Exodus 24:12).

Answer 9

Because God stated that explicitly (Exodus ch.19 and other passages).

Answer 10

because of the new testimet