Did God Only Love The Jewish People?

[jazzytakara]

In the Old Testament, the Jewish people were God's people, are God's people. But what about the rest of the world at that time? Did the Lord only Love them, why were the Jewish the only one's spoken of. I was just thinking of this today...I know the Lord loves us all, I am just wondering why the focus was only on one group of people in the OT.

[cappie]

The common assumption of many skeptics is that God chose the Jews just to give them some sort of preferential treatment. In reality, the Bible says that the Jews were selected to be a blessing to all the nations of the world."And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Genesis 12:2-3) In fact, the same passages that says that God chose the Jews also says that God does not show partiality and commands the Jews to love other peoples. The Old Testament indicates that the Jews were not prospered because of their righteousness, since they were "a stubborn people." However, the main way that the Jews were to be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth was that the Messiah was to be born through the line of David. Beginning with the third chapter of Genesis, the Old Testament tells how the Messiah was to come as the Savior of the world,6 These prophecies specifically state that the Messiah was to be God in human flesh, who would be the Son of God. The Messiah would establish the new covenant and would die as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all people.

Both the Old and New Testaments indicate that God does not show partiality among people, since He is the Creator of all. "For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the amesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe." (Deuteronomy 10:17) Because of this principle, the Jews were commanded to be impartial."Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe." (2 Chronicles 19:7) Likewise, the New Testament commands its followers to love all people and not show partiality, If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (James 2:8-9) especially when it comes to distinctions between the rich and the poor. So, from these commandments, it is pretty clear that God was not giving preferential treatment to the Jews in choosing them.