Why Israel? Deuteronomy 7

Deuteronomy 7:7-8a "The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you because ye were more in number than any people, for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you..."

We could stay in chapter 7 for a long time. Here we get insight into the thoughts behind many of the actions covered in Numbers. As a matter-of-fact, I think this is the first time I've see God's love for Israel discussed since we started. (I may have missed it.) True, we have seen it demonstrated but here the Lord, through Moses, speaks of his love for Israel.

There is mention of love between people but as far as I can find here is where the Lord communicates his love verbally for the first time, using the actual word.

v6 "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."

The world that Israel is entering is filled with people who worship Baal and it seems any other image they can imagine. Israel, however, worships the Lord whom they have not seen and therefore cannot make an image of Him. They worship him through faith alone as the only true God. They know he is real because of his demonstrations of his love and power.

Moses makes this point to them plainly. They are special because the Lord choose them and loved them NOT because of their merit.

Jump ahead to chapter 9 verse 6 for a moment.

c9v6 "Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

In fact he says: v24 "Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you."

Moses is trying to teach the people that they are indeed special and the Lord considers them so, but that it is not because of anything they have done to deserve it. It is because of the love of God.

So it is with us in salvation. It is God's unmerited favor that allows us to become a Christian. We will never be good enough. Christ's perfect sacrifice makes it possible and it is on his righteousness that we depend for our favor with the Father.

I Corinthians 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. v31

Back to our chapter: v22 "And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little; thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee."

The Lord is giving them the land but if all the enemy were cast out at once the land would turn into a wilderness filled with wild animals. So it is a little at a time that he gives it to them so that the wild beast do not increase to the point of devouring them. A magnificent plan.

v11 "Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which I command thee this day, to do them."

In return the Lord makes a promise:

v13 he will love thee...bless thee, multiply thee v14 take away all sickness

All the images the enemy has are to be utterly destroyed v25

Psalm 53:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good."