从最近在一个中文论坛的讨论，我意识到很多中国人很难理解为什么以色列人是神的选民，有些人说神不应该偏好某个种族；有些人认为拣选以色列的神可能不是所有人的神；有些人说神应该选择中国人而不是以色列人。多年以前我还没有成为基督徒时，我也曾经有过这个疑问，虽然这不是我的主要关切。神必须从某个地方某些人开始祂的工作；神拣选了亚伯拉罕。后来读了多年圣经和相关的历史著作后，我想我可以更好地回答这个问题。
对这个问题不存在大家（基督徒和非基督徒）都接受的答案。即使基督徒内部对这个问题也有不同看法。一个伟大神学家约翰-加尔文提出了神决定论。他的观点是所有人（除了耶稣以外）都完全堕落在罪中，只有神拣选的那些人才可能得救。所有新教基督徒都接受马丁-路德的教义：只需要信心就可以称义。但是有些基督徒接受加尔文的神学，有些不接受。我可以理解两边的立场因为两边似乎都有圣经经节支持。下面我将以非决定论的角度探讨这个问题。如果你是加尔文主义者，或许你不需要继续读下去。我下面的讨论并不想否认加尔文的论断而是一种探讨。希望对非基督徒和感兴趣的基督徒有些帮助。
下面我陈述一下相关的论点：
1. 神有绝对的主权。祂可以做祂想要的任何选择，没有人有权力质疑神的公正和智慧。
2. 亚伯拉罕的被拣选是关键。以色列人的被拣选实现了神对亚伯拉罕的承诺，因为以色列人是亚伯拉罕的后裔。
3. 人往往看外在的事情，但神监察人心。
4. 可以考虑应用马太福音13章里播种的比喻。
5. 以色列人的被拣选，并不是因为他们优秀，而是别的民族更邪恶。
首先，神才有真正的主权，这是由神的定义所决定的。我们可以说一个具有主权的政府，一个具有主权的国家，但只有神才拥有真正的主权。人世间所有人类加起来的知识，洞察力，智慧和能力，都无法和神匹敌。因此当神选择了祂认为合适的人，没有人可以质疑神的决定正确与否。根据【1】，亚伯拉罕生活在公元前1900年至公元前1700之间。熟悉考古学的人都会告诉你，对于远古发生的事情，不可能得到确定的答案。譬如对于“特洛伊战争”，我们无法断定到底是真有此事，还是小说家的创造。神与亚伯拉罕之间的对话，我们又如何可以确切知道呢？这个人神对话，是以色列民族通过人口相传流传下来的。因此，圣经就是我们最好的资料。圣经并未说为什么神拣选了亚伯拉罕，至少没有文字记载。但我们必须相信神是做出了正确的选择。
不是所有的以色列人都可以得到拯救，罗马书是这样说的：
9:6 ………，因为从以色列生的、不都是以色列人．
9:7 也不因为是亚伯拉罕的后裔、就都作他的儿女．惟独『从以撒生的、才要称为你的后裔。』
9:8 这就是说、肉身所生的儿女、不是 神的儿女．惟独那应许的儿女、才算是后裔。
9:9 因为所应许的话是这样说、『到明年这时候我要来、撒拉必生一个儿子。』
9:10 不但如此、还有利百加、既从一个人、就是从我们的祖宗以撒怀了孕．
9:11 （双子还没有生下来、善恶还没有作出来、只因要显明 神拣选人的旨意、不在乎人的行为、乃在乎召人的主)
9:12 神就对利百加说、『将来大的要服事小的。』
9:13 正如经上所记、『雅各是我所爱的、以扫是我所恶的。』
为什么神选雅各而厌恶以扫？我们根本无从得知，我们只需要知道神有绝对主权，祂的拣选就是这样。
其次，圣经告诉我们神给了亚伯拉罕一个应许。创世纪
15:4 耶和华又有话对他说、这人必不成为你的后嗣、你本身所生的、才成为你的后嗣。
15:5于是领他走到外边、说、你向天观看、数算众星、能数得过来么．又对他说、你的后裔将要如此。
15:6亚伯兰信耶和华、耶和华就以此为他的义。
申命记 7：7 “耶和华喜爱你们、拣选你们，不是因为你们的人口比别的民族多——其实你们在万族中是最小的—— 8 而是因为祂爱你们，遵守祂向你们祖先所起的誓。因此，祂用大能的手把你们从受奴役的地方领出来，从埃及王法老手中救赎了你们。以色列是亚伯拉罕的后裔，神实现了对亚伯拉罕的应许，以色列人是神的选民。
第三，人往往看人的外表，但神监察人心。
撒母耳记上16:7耶和华却对撒母耳说、不要看他的外貌和他身材高大、我不拣选他、因为耶和华不像人看人、人是看外貌、耶和华是看内心。
只有神才知道哪个更好。
第四，让我们来看看马太福音13章1-23节关于播种的比喻。
13:1 当那一天、耶稣从房子里出来、坐在海边。
13:2 有许多人到他那里聚集、他只得上船坐下．众人都站在岸上。
13:3 他用比喻对他们讲许多道理、说、有一个撒种的出去撒种．
13:4 撒的时候、有落在路旁的、飞鸟来吃尽了。
13:5 有落在土浅石头地上的．土既不深、发苗最快．
13:6 日头出来一晒、因为没有根、就枯干了。
13:7 有落在荆棘里的．荆棘长起来、把他挤住了。
13:8 又有落在好土里的、就结实、有一百倍的、有六十倍的、有三十倍的。
13:9 有耳可听的、就应当听。
13:10 门徒进前来、问耶稣说、对众人讲话、为甚么用比喻呢。
13:11 耶稣回答说、因为天国的奥秘、只叫你们知道、不叫他们知道。
13:12 凡有的、还要加给他、叫他有余．凡没有的、连他所有的、也要夺去。
13:13 所以我用比喻对他们讲、是因他们看也看不见、听也听不见、也不明白。
13:14 在他们身上、正应了以赛亚的预言、说、『你们听是要听见、却不明白．看是要看见、却不晓得．』
13:15 因为这百姓油蒙了心、耳朵发沉、眼睛闭着．恐怕眼睛看见、耳朵听见、心里明白、回转过来、我就医治他们。
13:16 但你们的眼睛是有福的、因为看见了你们的耳朵也是有福的、因为听见了。
13:17 我实在告诉你们、从前有许多先知和义人、要看你们所看的、却没有看见．要听你们所听的、却没有听见。
13:18 所以你们当听这撒种的比喻。
13:19 凡听见天国道理不明白的、那恶者就来、把所撒在他心里的、夺了去．这就是撒在路旁的了。
13:20 撒在石头地上的、就是人听了道、当下欢喜领受．
13:21 只因心里没有根、不过是暂时的．及至为道遭了患难、或是受了逼迫、立刻就跌倒了。
13:22 撒在荆棘里的、就是人听了道、后来有世上的思虑、钱财的迷惑、把道挤住了、不能结实。
13:23 撒在好地上的、就是人听道明白了、后来结实、有一百倍的、有六十倍的、有三十倍的。
从这个比喻里我们可以学到什么呢？在亚伯拉罕那个时代（公元前1900年前后），（在全世界范围内）神可能进行了很多“播种”的工作，如托梦，异象，神迹，奇事。但是，只有亚伯拉罕相信，因此神就以此为他的义。以前我曾经提及在1976年毛泽东死去前的那个晚上，神给了我一个异象，第二天毛就死了；我没有提及的是在此之前神已经给过我一些异象和其他的超自然现象。我的心已经软化了。神也许已经给过一些梦想，异象，神迹给许多人，有如圣经所说，（希伯来书3:7-9）
3:7 圣灵有话说、『你们今日若听他的话、
3:8 就不可硬着心、像在旷野惹他发怒、试探他的时候一样．
3:9 在那里、你们的祖宗试我探我、并且观看我的作为、有四十年之久。
很可能神给了很多人异象，但只有亚伯拉罕相信。也有可能，神选择了唯一的一个人，就是亚伯拉罕，因为他的心比同时代的人柔软。
第五, 神的选择可以成为祝福也可以成为诅咒。
申命记11：26 看哪、我今日将祝福与咒诅的话、都陈明在你们面前。
11:27 你们若听从耶和华你们 神的诫命、就是我今日所吩咐你们的、就必蒙福。
11:28 你们若不听从耶和华你们 神的诫命、偏离我今日所吩咐你们的道、去事奉你们素来所不认识的别神、就必受祸。
圣经旧约里通篇都是例子。如果以色列人真心跟随神并且守约，神就祝福他们；反之，如果以色列人背约，神将进行严厉惩罚，程度甚至超过其他种族。
参考书目：
1. N. Smart ，”世界宗教”，第二版，剑桥大学出版社，1998
2. Peter Thonemann and Simon Price，“经典欧洲的诞生：从特洛伊到奥古斯丁” 企鹅出版社 2010
3. William McNeill, “西方的崛起：一部人类社会的历史” 芝加哥大学出版社，1992
4. Fernand Braudel，“人类文明史”，企鹅出版社，1995
5. John King Fairbank, Merle Goldman “中国：一个新的历史” Belknap出版社，，1998
Why God Chose Abraham/Israelis? (1)
I decided to write about this topic after discussion on a Chinese internet forum. Many Chinese have trouble about that Israelis is God’s chosen people: some think that is unfair, some would say that God of Israel cannot be God for all peoples, and some think that God should have chosen Chinese instead. Many years ago before I decided to become a Christian I also gave this question some thought. However, it never was my major concern. God had to start from somewhere and from someone. So God chose Abraham (explained in Genesis). After reading the Bible for many years and literature on histories, I might answer this question somewhat better.
There is no universally accepted answer to this question among Christians or non-Christians. In particular, a great Christian theologian John Calvin proposed predetermination. In his viewpoint, all humen (except Jesus) are totally fallen in sins and only God can chose those who are saved. All Protestants agree with Martin Luther that faith alone is justified for salvation. But some Protestants accept Calvin’s theology and some do not. I can understand both sides and there are biblical passages to support both sides. If you are a Calvinist, then you perhaps need not read further. Below I try to look from a non-deterministic viewpoint. This does not dispute Calvin’s theology but is an investigative exercise. I hope that this might help non-believers or interested believers.
Let me give a summary of relevant points. 1) God is sovereign. He can make whatever selection He wants. No person is qualified to question His fairness or wisdom. 2) Selection of Abraham is the key. Selection of Israelis fulfills God’s promise to Abraham, thus a natural development of God’s promise. 3) Men looks at the outside but God looks at the heart. 4) Parable of sower (Matthew 13) might be applicable. 5) Not because Israelis were good but because the others were worse.
First, God is sovereign. This is by definition. One may talk a sovereign government, a sovereign country, but only God is truly sovereign. He is way above in terms of knowledge, insight, wisdom, and power than all human beings combined. Therefore, He selects whoever He thinks suitable. No human being should even think of questioning God’s selection. According to [1], Abraham lived sometime between 1900 B.C. and 1700 B.C. Anyone familiar with archaeology will tell you that it is impossible to be certain of something of that ancient. It is even difficult to establish whether Troy War was a real war or a fiction. How can anyone be certain of conversation between God and Abraham? The content of conversation was most likely passed orally to late Israelis. Therefore, the Bible is our best bet. The Bible did not say why God chose Abraham, at least not in words. We have to trust that God had made the correct selection.
Not all Israelis will be saved. Romans 9:6 ……. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. Romans 9:9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” There is no way for us to tell why God chose Jacob but hated Esau. So we need to know that God is sovereign and His selection is just.
Second, the Bible tells us that God made a promise to Abraham. Genesis 15:4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be. 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Israelis are descendants of Abraham. God fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham, Israelis were chosen to be God’s people.
Third, men look at the outside of a man but God looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God knows better.
Fourth, the parable of sower of Matthew 13:1-23 may shed some light as well.
Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
What can we learn from this parable? It is possible that at the time of Abraham God in various ways “sowed seeds”, dreams, visions, signs, miracles. Abraham was the only one who believed and God credited him as righteousness. Sometime ago I mentioned that on the very night of Mao’s death God gave me a vision. The next day Mao died. What I did not mention is that God gave me visions or other supernaturals before this. So my heart was already softened. God might have given signs, dreams, or visions to a number of people. Like the Bible said, (Hebrew 3:7-9)
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,
though for forty years they saw what I did.
It is possible that God gave signs to many but only Abraham believed. It is also possible that God chose only one, Abraham because Abraham’s heart is softer than his contemporaries.
Fifth, God’s selection could be either blessing or curse. Deuteronomy 11:26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. There are many examples throughout the Old Testament. If Israelis faithfully followed God and did according to the covenant, God would bless Israelis. If, on the other hand, Israelis failed to live up to the covenant with God, God would severely punished them, even more than other peoples.
References:
[1] N. Smart, “The World’s Religions”, 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press, 1998.
[2] Peter Thonemann and Simon Price, ”The birth of classical Europe : a history from Troy to Augustine,” Penguin Books 2010
[3] William McNeill, “The Rise of the West: A History of the Human Community”, University Of Chicago Press, 1992.
[4] Fernand Braudel, “A History of Civilizations,” Penguin, April 1, 1995.
[5] John King Fairbank, Merle Goldman, “China: A New History,” 1998, Belknap Press