When we read through the Bible, we may easily understand the gist of salvation. But, there are quite a lot of questions that even renowned scholars have difficulty understanding them. One of the most difficult things to understand for a beginning reader of the Bible is the idea of the chosen people that is unique to Jews. Why God chose a race out of all human races to make a special covenant, and why did He need to guide them by performing numerous miracles and graces as described in the Bible? If He had to choose one race, why did he choose Jews in particular? What good points or virtues Jews have to become a chosen people?
The problem is that it is not a problem of one race; it is rather a matter of God’s statesmanship of the whole universe. Therefore, it is difficult to know it completely, even if we like to do so. I like to avoid an arbitrary opinion based on my narrow point of view, but, as a man concealing such a question in my heart, I do respond to with amen and praise Lord for His justice, when I can glimpse at his deeds once in a while as electric charges radiate sparks. Being chosen is absolutely a matter of the One who exercises His will, but chosen Israelite is beautiful, too. But Peter and John, who astonished people because both were mere fishermen without any education or fame, replied to the rulers and elders, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Act 4:13-20). Read it while imagining that you were being interrogated at a police station or by a prosecutor in front of a judge; answering disciples were indeed courageous, and is there any other race that has a fair police station or a court house that honors such answer. Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29) It was a law and an axiom for Jews to obey God, without any room for further discussion; they were descendents who could not act as an individual or as an organization unless their conscience tells them what to do. If you grabbed an adulteress at a main street of downtown Seoul, and bided, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her,” she would be killed in several seconds; but only from Jews, she would preserve her life. (John 8:3-11)

Is it really because Koreans’ hatred toward adultery is stronger than that of Jews? Is it because all Jews have sins, but Koreans have no sin? The posterity of Adam should all have sins, but it was natural that Jews, comparing to Koreans, became the chosen people. They made mistakes and they were stubborn, but Israelite was people of pure heart and a race of conscience. I do not hesitate to accept God’s works millions times by calling out amen; at the other hand, I am compelled to wish a day come quickly when the strong muscle of right hand of the men, who were going to throw stones to the adulteress, would be severed and keen shameful feeling controls their heart. A blind man who is not afraid of a poisonous snake is not courageous, and a thief plugs up his ears and steals a bell, then he is not clever. If Koreans have no sense of a sin, is it something to be congratulated gladly? Or, is it to be bitterly lamented?

Israelite was stubborn, but the stubbornness was like that of Thomas who insisted on touching the hands of Jesus who resurrected from death. They often made mistakes, but those were like that of Peter. Generally, the stubbornness and mistakes were the outcome of their honest heart.

(Message: I do believe that God chooses honest and conscientious person as his servant. My father named me to be an honest man or an upright man to inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (Psalm 37:11) I have tried to live up to my name, and I have received abundant blessing so far in health, in relationship with others, and wealth.)