A UNIVERSAL GOD

In his chapter on Judaism in The World's Religions, author Huston Smith brings up something I had never considered before. 

Smith writes, "Certainly, the idea that a universal God decided that the divine nature should be uniquely and incomparably disclosed to a single people is among the most difficult notions to take seriously in the entire study of religion." (307)

Yes! How odd that THE God of the universe would focus on one particular people group to the exclusion of all the rest of His human creation. 

It really makes no sense - especially since Israel was not interested in the least in bringing converts into the fold. Not in the past. Not now.

But what if God's relationship with that small and otherwise insignificant nation was only the first step in the overall plan?

What if God's next step was to have His Messiah arise out of that people and sacrifice Himself on their behalf so that they may finally experience true righteousness? (So unlike what they tried - and failed - to attain through the law.) 

And what if this made possible a level of intimacy with the Creator which was never known by any nation or people before? As sons and daughters to their heavenly Father. 

And what if this Messiah then, as the Only Gateway to the Only God, opened Himself not only to the chosen nation, but to the wide world of humanity outside their walls. 

NOW it makes sense.