In choosing Jacob, God also chooses all His children, the nation of Israel. As Moses tells them,
“The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6).
Among Jacob’s twelve sons, God chooses Levi as the father of the priestly tribe.10 God chooses Judah as the father of the future kings.11
Later, God chooses Judah’s descendent David to be king.12 These selections keep God’s plan on track. David’s kingly line will lead to the long-awaited “Seed.” This “Seed” will build God’s “house.” He will reign over “His kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12-13).13
All this choosing, however, leaves out more and more people. For example, by selecting Aaron’s family as priests, God keeps others away.
“And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death” (Numbers 3:10).
Of all the casualties, the hardest hit are the Gentiles – all non-Jews. For in choosing for Israel, God chooses against non-Israel.14 Indeed, much of the Law of Moses serves to separate Israel from other people. Ephesians calls this “the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). The blessings and conditions of the Law belong to the covenant people, not to others.15 Paul’s readers are “others” – Gentiles! For ages they have been the outsiders. Any child knows that feeling. Older people often ignore a child. Other children may leave a child out of their groups and games. Someone must be the last chosen for a sports team, or left out altogether! That is the Gentile experience.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:11-12).
For centuries God excluded Gentiles to make a stern statement: He rejected their immoral, idolatrous ways.16 Correct that tense: God still rejects pagan conduct!
They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart (Ephesians 4:18).
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 5:5-6).
Do you see the problem Paul’s readers face? They recently lived like Gentiles.17 Even now, their birth certificates have not changed. They are still “Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’” (Ephesians 2:11). They are still “non-Jews,” which to some minds can easily suggest, “non-chosen.”
You probably fall into the same category as the Ephesians: “you Gentiles” (Ephesians 3:1). Since Israel is the chosen nation, where does that leave you? Are you non-chosen? Are you a misfit in God’s glorious plans for Israel? Does the kingdom have second-class citizens, or visitors on temporary visas? Are Jews the first-born sons, while the rest of us are second-born, or worse, unwanted children? These are the questions, and Ephesians gives the answers.
10. Numbers 3:6-10; Deuteronomy 18:5; 21:5
11. Genesis 49:10; Psalm 78:67-68
12. 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 78:70-71
13. Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-10; Jeremiah 23:5; 30:9; Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14,27; Luke 1:31-33
15. Research Subject – Israel as special: Exodus 34:27-28; Deuteronomy 4:1-14,37; 5:1-3; 7:7-8; 10:15; 14:2; 29:1; Psalm 135:4; 147:20; Amos 3:2; Romans 3:19; 9:4. Examples: Sabbath Exodus 31:13-17; circumcision Leviticus 12:1-3; Genesis 17:10-14; prosperity Deuteronomy 7:12-15; 8:18; 29:9; role Exodus 19:5-6; conquest Exodus 34:10-11; well-being Leviticus 26:9-12; punishment Leviticus 26:14-26; see also Study Note: The Family Foretold.
16. Ephesians 4:17-19; Romans 1:18-32
Picture: “Artemis of the Ephesians” was an idol worshiped “throughout the province of Asia and the world” (Acts 19:27-28). Ephesus’ largest temple was built to this goddess, and several statues of her have been unearthed.