Q: Why was it necessary to have a “chosen” people? I see all the parallels between the Old and New Testaments, but I’m not sure why they were necessary. Current war in the Holy Land has brought this to the forefront. The Jews feel that the Holy Land was given to them by God and therefore feel justified to fight for it. — Gregor

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:

It’s not clear that it was necessary for God to have a chosen people.

He could have done things differently, yet it was through a chosen people that he decided to reveal himself to the world.

That there was a chosen people doesn’t mean that the rest of mankind was an afterthought.

God’s ultimate plan was to call all peoples to himself. Indeed, he “wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

That said, one explanation for the chosen people is a bit paradoxical: God knew that this people would reject him many times, and that gave him the opportunity to show his mercy and patience in extraordinary ways.

Think of the Israelites who rebelled in the desert (the golden calf incident, for instance) and the times they went after pagan gods even in the promised land. God didn’t give up on them. He kept sending judges and prophets, and he even brought them back from exile in Babylon.

God, in a sense, acted like a faithful husband who didn’t give up on a wayward wife.

All this helped to drive home (for us) the truth about Our Lord’s persistent love.

For related reading, you might want to look at A Father Who Keeps His Promises, by Scott Hahn. Also worth a look is this post on covenantal theology.

I hope some of this is helpful.