“Special” People
In dealing with Israel after coming out of Egypt and preparing them for entry into Canaan, God told them, “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” (Deuteronomy 7:6). They were to be a special and a holy people who stood apart from all people on the earth.
God had chosen Israel above all others. Why? What was the difference? Moses went on to explain it wasn’t because of their numbers or their physical superiority. The reason for choosing Israel was simple. “But because the Lord 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 from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:8). God chose them because of the covenant He had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob concerning the nations and peoples that would descend from them.
The next logical question is, “What was so special about the patriarchs, Abraham in particular, he being the first?” He was a wealthy man and no doubt of good intellect. Maybe he just looked like a leader in terms of stature or perhaps he had a charismatic personality. Any or all of these things could have been true, but the outward appearance of a man is not the main focus of God’s attention. He looks at the heart – the inner man.
God’s attention is on those who have a desire to become like He is at heart. Moses points to one of God’s most endearing characteristics at heart. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Our God is unwaveringly faithful to His people – those who love Him and want to become just like Him. In Galatians 3:7, Abraham, a “special” person in God’s eyes, is considered the father of the faithful who have entered into a personal, new covenant relationship with God at their baptism. Today each of those who comprise the body of Christ – the Church of God – are special in God’s sight.
Do we each stand apart from the world in our day as Abraham did in his? Our Father is not focused on our stature, wealth, intellect, personality or self-assessed leadership capabilities. He’s focused on our hearts. Are we faithful to our God, each other and to His Church?
Marshall Stiver
