“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LROD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you… (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).
I never cease to be amazed at the people we call “the Jews” They derived this name from one of the 12 tribes of Jacob, whose name was Judah. Throughout the centuries since then and even prior to that time, the Jewish people have been afflicted, persecuted, and often, put to death. The Spanish inquisitions of the late 15th and early l6 centuries, as well as the European Holocaust of the late 1930’s and 40’s are just 2 of the glaring reminders of humanity’s antagonism against them. Throughout history and to this day there have been all too many attempts to eradicate these people who have been small in number.
Several reasons may be adduced for the animosities and atrocities leveled against them:
- They were the bearers of God’s moral laws. The world has resented the divine restrictions these laws have placed upon them (Psalm 2).
- The attacks against them may also very readily be traced to a very real enemy of God, the Devil, who has tried to thwart God’s plan ever since his fall. [But God has already promised the demise of this evil being (Revelation 20:10), which will transpire according to God’s eternal Word].
- God has at times had to discipline His own people who have wandered away from His Word, the purpose of which was to bring them back to Himself.
God has an eternal plan for the Jews. Yes, they are His special people, and we would be well off to pray for them and support them in their plight.
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