Chapter 6: Evidences That Demand A Verdict - Why is Israel preferred above all creatures
9. Why is Israel preferred above all creatures.
God said concerning Israel:
But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish (Isaiah 41:8-11)
The Quran mentions that Allah favored Israel and preferred them to all creatures and gave them things which He did not give to any other of His creatures:
O children of Israel! Remember My favour wherewith I favoured you and how I preferred you to [all] creatures(Surat Al-Baqarah 2:47 - M. Pickthall Translation)
O children of Israel! Remember my favour wherewith I favoured you and how I preferred you to [all] creatures (Surat Al-Baqarah 2:122)
And verily We gave the children of Israel the Scripture and the command and the prophethood, and provided them with good things and favoured them above [all] peoples (Surat Al-Jathiyah 45:16)
And [remember] when Moses said unto his people: O my people! Remember Allah’s favour unto you, how He placed among you prophets, and He made you kings, and gave you that [which] He gave not to any [other] of [His] creatures (Surat Al-Maidah 5:20).
Why did God favor the children of Israel above all people?
Why did He give them the Scripture and the prophethood?
The answers are clear in the Bible:
First, because God committed His Word to them.
What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles [the word] of God (Romans 3:1,2 - NKJ).
Second, and more importantly, because Jesus Christ had to be from them.
The apostle Peter says:
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God (Romans 9:3-5 - NKJ).
God preferred Israel above all creatures, because His Son, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind, had to be from them,
for salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22).
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