Exodus 19:5 New International Version (NIV)
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,
God knew that no nation on earth was good enough to deserve to be called his people. He chose Israel, not because of anything they had done, but in his love and mercy he chose them. He chose them even though he knew they would do wrong. Why would God want a special nation on earth? He wanted a people to represent his way of life. He wanted a people to teach us his Word. He wanted a nation to be an agent of salvation to the world. All nations would be blessed through Abraham’s descendants. Israel would be put through a righteous training, then it could be the channel for his blessings to the entire world.