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Episode Summary

If God has a chosen people, does that mean everyone else is being left out?

Bobby McGraw talks with Matt Davis, a Jewish believer in Jesus and co-founder of The Jewish Road, about why God chose Israel and what that means for the rest of us.

Matt traces the story back to Abraham and explains why he believes God chose Israel to bring blessing to every nation.

Drawing on his own experience of being asked how someone can be both Jewish and a follower of Jesus, Matt connects the Old and New Testaments as two acts of one story.

They also discuss spiritual conflict, God’s faithfulness, and Matt’s conviction that the church has not replaced the Jewish people.

For anyone who has wondered where they belong in the Bible’s story, this conversation offers a way to explore that question while taking its Jewish roots seriously.

Key Takeaways

● Matt explains God’s choice of Israel as a calling to bless the nations, rather than a declaration that everyone else matters less.

● Reading the Old and New Testaments together helps make sense of Jesus’ identity, teaching, and place in the biblical story.

● Matt describes spiritual conflict as part of the Bible’s larger story, while acknowledging how unfamiliar that idea can sound to someone exploring faith.

● Matt believes God remains faithful to His promises to the Jewish people. He distinguishes that conviction from agreement with every decision made by Israel’s government.

● You do not need to understand every part of the Bible to begin exploring it. Matt invites listeners to look for the connections and consider where God may already have been present in their own lives.

Chapter Markers

00:00 - Does Having a Chosen People Mean God Picks Favorites?

07:32 - Israel’s Struggles and the Bible’s Spiritual Battle

16:03 - Where Jesus Fits in the Story

21:43 - Has the Church Replaced Israel?

28:38 - Finding Your Place in the Story

Resources

● The Jewish Road - The ministry Matt and his father started to help people connect the Bible’s Jewish roots with faith in Jesus. Its website includes their podcast, articles, and teaching resources.

● He Was There All Along: Finding Jesus in the First Half - Matt’s 30-day journey through the promises and connections that lead toward Jesus’ birth. He describes a book, a YouVersion reading plan, short daily videos, and a Jesse tree ornament set. Explore the resources through The Jewish Road.

● The 30-Minute Bible - By Craig G. Bartholomew and Paige P. Vanosky. Recommended in the outro as an approachable way to understand the Bible’s larger story.

● InterVarsity Press - Thanked in the outro for supporting the reach of the podcast.

Share this conversation with someone who has wondered why God chose Israel or how the two halves of the Bible fit together. Have a question you would like the show to explore? Send it to Clear Faith for a possible future episode.

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Music: “[ctrl]” (Instrumental Version) by Lalinea

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