The nation of Israel had an extraordinary beginning, one of
the most unusual of any race in history. The origin of Israel
beginning with Abraham's departure from Ur in Chaldea, the deliverance
of Israel from Egypt in Moses time, and many other striking events,
give the Jewish race a unique place in the history of mankind.
The Jews are not only unique as a race, but they are also a branch
of the Semitic races, the descendants of Shem. Semitics include
Arabs, Syrians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, along with such tribes names
in the O.T. as the Moabites, Edomites, and the Midianites. Abraham
was a Chaldean, having been born and raised in Ur of Chaldea.
But it is the Jews who were the chosen nation, the people selected
to live under a Theocracy, with all the privileges and responsibilities of that position. It is well to be warned against any
form of anti-Semitism. During the present Church Age, the Jews
are under divine judgment, and God does not permit any interference
with His judgment. Matt. 7:1 ff.
The doctrine of Israel's preeminence is first declared in the
Abrahamic Covenant. Gen. 12:1-3; 13:15,16; 22:15-18; 26:3,4; Ex.
6:2-8. This covenant is a reminder to us that long before our
European ancestors were painting themselves blue and green and
worshipping rocks and trees, God had taken a special man, Abraham,
and created a special race of people, by Grace, which had a flourishing
intellectual society more than 1,000 years before the time of
Christ.
Israel neither earned nor deserved this special attention. The
Lord did not choose them because of any merit on their part, or
on Abraham's part. But the Abrahamic covenant guarantees the Jews
two things: 1) the Jews will live throughout history in spite
of every Satanic attempt to destroy them through anti-Semitism;
and 2) the born-again Jews from Abraham to the second coming of
Christ will have a place forever that is unique and fantastic
in God's plan. The preeminence of Israel is based on several important
factors.
First, the preeminence of Israel is based upon their custodianship
of divine communication of revelation in written form. The Jews
were recipients of direct divine revelation from God; and they
eventually because custodians of the Canon of Scripture. Rom.
3:2. The presence of doctrine and the teaching ministry of the
Jews also provides a basis for the preeminence of Israel. The
nations Preeminence stems also from their responsibility for
writing the Scriptures and communicating them to the world. The
writers of the Old Testament were all Jews who had the gift or
office of prophet. In addition, all of the New Testament writers
except Luke were Jews.
The preeminence of Israel is also based on the uniqueness of the
Mosaic Law the the significance of the attending ritual of circum
cision.
Israel is distinct because they have a land which belongs to them
forever. No one else has been promised a piece of real estate
by God. The Palestinian Covenant is detailed in Gen. 15:18; Num.
34:1-12; Deut. 30:1-9; Josh. 1:3,4. This land goes from the Nile
River to the Euphrates and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf
of Akabah. The preeminence of Israel is also based on having a
King who will reign forever, Jesus Christ of the line of David.
2 Sam. 7:8-16; Ps. 89:20-37.
The preeminence of Israel is based on the fact that, even though
they have been disciplined and scattered, they will be regathered
and restored at the Second Advent of Christ. Isa. 5:26-30; 10:19-23;
11:11-16; 14:1-3; 60:4-6; Joel 2:16 ff; Zech. 10:6-12. Therefore,
the Jews' preeminence is related to their survival in spite of
anti-Semitism. Rev. 12; Zech. 14:16-21.
Finally, the preeminence of Israel is based on the pattern of
Abraham's salvation. Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:1-16,22,23. Born again
Jews of all time will participate in these promises.