Thus, out of all the world, was gradually chosen and prepared a people among whom the Lord should come.
II. Notice =their traits= as a race, for which they were chosen, and which were intensified by their training:
1. They were a =religious= people; monotheistic; worshiping the one invisible God, hating idolatry. See the command (Exod. 20. 3-6). The exhortation of Joshua (Josh. 24. 14). This is the great glory of Israel alone among the ancient nations.
2. They were an =exclusive= people; strongly attached to each other, and seeking no affiliation with other races. Note this trait in Abraham (Gen. 24. 2-4). Also in Isaac (Gen. 28. 1, 2). See Balaam's prophecy (Num. 23. 9). To this day the Jews dwell apart; in most European cities there is a "Jewish quarter."
3. They were a =conservative= people; attached to their own customs, opposed to all changes, clinging to their worship despite persecution.
4. They were an =aspiring= people. From their earliest history the Jews cherished the expectation of being a great and conquering nation. From their own prophecies they obtained the hope and belief that a great king should arise among them to rule the world. See the promises in Gen. 49. 10. The prophecy in Isa. 32. 1, 2. His title in Dan. 9. 25. The word "Messiah" in Hebrew is "Christos" in Greek, and "Anointed" in English. This messianic hope was the central thought of all Judaism.
5. They were a =moral= people. Their Scripture set up a standard of character immeasurably superior to that in other ancient lands. Among the Jews womanhood was honored, drunkenness was rare, honesty was the rule, and crime was far less frequent than elsewhere.
These were the traits that made the Jews the people of God and fitted them to accomplish the divine purpose.
III. What was that purpose? Every race has its mission in the world. The Greeks were set to exalt the intellect; the Romans, to establish the reign of law. We notice the =mission of the Jewish people=:
1. =To perpetuate the knowledge of God.= In the general wickedness of the world and the spread of idolatry there was danger lest the true religion be utterly lost. Therefore God chose out one nation--the one having the traits best fitting it for his purpose--and set it apart to guard the holy fire of divine truth until the rest of the world should be ready to receive it.