"Why is Israel in the spotlight of the world's media? Why do heads of government, usually practical and sophisticated in politics, explode with emotional outbursts when Israel becomes the subject of discussion? Why does the UN spend 30% of its time and a third of its resolutions is devoted to Israel - tiny country? ... "
"A lot of controversy regarding Israel revolves around the subject of Israel's choice .... problems begin when God says that He chose a People that we would never have chosen" (Derek Prince, "The Future of Israel and the Church").
In the book of Romans, Apostle Paul emphasizes the reality of Israel's election as God's chosen people by the example of brothers Jacob and Esau, the sons of the forefather of the Jewish people, Isaac, and their mother, Rebekah.
“And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, 'The older shall serve the younger.' As it is written, 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated'” (Romans 9:10-13).
Even before the brothers were born, the choice had already been made. The rebirth of the people of Israel in their homeland was also predicted many times in the pages of Holy Scripture,
“Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and the valleys, Thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and My fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations.' Therefore, thus says the Lord God: 'I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame. But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt'"
(Ezekiel 36:6-10).
On the other hand, blessings and protection are promised to Israel, but not because of their merits before God,
“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: 'I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,' says the Lord God, 'when I am hallowed in you before their eyes'" (Ezekiel 36: 22-23).
The same deliverance is mentioned by Apostle Paul in Romans (10):
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).
From Apostle Paul’s point of view, even Israel's rejection of Jesus' Messianic calling is good for the rest of the world,
“…But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” (Romans 11:11-13).
Despite these great promises from God, the people of Israel must be worthy of their calling. The promises are not arbitrary but based on the condition of fulfilling the covenants of the Most High God. Therefore, only those who have confirmed their faithfulness to the covenant with God through their lives will be saved:
“For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return. The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness”
(Isaiah 10:22).
I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid”
(Zephaniah 3: 12-13).
"I only loved you out of all the families of the earth, therefore I will exact from you for all your evil" (Amos 3: 2).
In the original context, the word "loved" means "knew"; that is, brought closer to Himself into close communication. The special gift of knowledge of God which Israel received required the people to completely yield their moral will and also stipulated their total devotion to God and His commandments. As a representative of all mankind, Israel had to cultivate a willingness to receive revelation and be worthy of it. This has nothing to do with vulgar national messianism, for by its nature, Israel is no different from Ethiopians and Philistines (see ibid., Chapter 9, article 7).
"... God's righteousness stands above everything, and if the people called to fulfill it turn out to be untenable, they should not count on connivance and wait for leniency. This is the same thought that Christ expressed in the parable of talents:" To whom much has been given, from that much will be asked. "Bitter disappointment awaits those who say:’we are better than others,’ ‘we are the chosen,’ ‘we are special’. The truth of God is impartial" (Father Alexander Men, Jewish Russian Orthodox priest).