It is said that the Jews are God"s chosen people but is being the "chosen people" a "privilege" or more of an obligation? In Shemot 19 Verses 5 and 6 God commands Moshe to tell the Israelites that they are his chosen people. God says, "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles" wings and brought you to Me. Now then, if you obey My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples." Why does God first remind the Israelites of how he saved them from Egypt? I believe that God is trying to make the point that the nation of Israel owes him a debt and that they must repay this debt. How? By following his commandment and keeping the covenant. Being the "chosen people" is just a nice way of saying God chose us to worship him. .

             Are the Israelites really free while they have this obligation to be God"s "Chosen People?" God may have saved them from the back braking work of Egyptian slavery but he has put them into another form of slavery. The Israelites are definitely much better off as the "chosen people" and as Gods "treasured possession" than they were as slaves to the Egyptians but they are still not free. As the "chosen people" we have a contract with God. If we keep the covenant and live by his commandments then he protects us, give us shelter, and take care of our needs. If we do not would God still take care of us or would he leave us to fend for ourselves? If the Israelites had not chosen to accept this deal with God would they have been provided for in the desert? At first it seemed like their were options. You could choose to be part of the "chosen people" or chose not to be. But then if you look more closely it is obvious that there really is not a choice. You must accept Gods commandments because if you do not you will be alone in the desert.