I like where Rusty was going, but before I get to that; let's consider a few things about the Hebrews: God chose them because of their heartbreak and enslavement and their groaning to God-Now we know that God prepared them to be His 'peculiar' people. But He also chose them to 'be the example'; the 'light on a hill' for other nations.
Now we see the word 'heathen' used in the Old Testament which we could sort of substitute the word 'gentile': ones without God. But 'heathen' is more of a person/ nation that has rejected god, verses: 'gentile' those not knowing of God. In the grand scheme of things-people not living with God in their lives.
Deuteronomy 14:
2 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Psalm 9:
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
I want to remind anyone reading this that if we follow the Bible history on faith-after the Flood-all 8 people KNEW about God. From these 8 sprung the nations of the world:
Psalm 9
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
Since the 'Jews' failed in their task -Jesus Christ came to set an example for mankind. (Of course we know that He knew He was going to have to do this anyway).
Now this is a crude thrown together list, so please if you feel like adding do so:
First example: Creation- then Adam getting kicked out of the Garden
Second Example: The Deluge-Noah and His family surviving
Third example: Abraham-having faith in God and being Righteous (Then Isaac, Jacob (Israel) and Joseph)
Next example: Hebrews calling unto God-God freeing them from bondage (then Mt Sinai and the 40 year exile)
Then: we have Joshua and the 'people' with God's strength cleansing / preparing the 'promised land.
(Notice that God is not compromised by 'time')
After this we have prophets, judges & kings -all of whom are ultimately discarded by 'the people' the Hebrews.
So God gave the promise of the Messiah.
and the Messiah came-and was rejected by 'the people'
So it is up to us Christians to carry on the message from the beginning-God created, He loves us, He gave us free will/ spirit, He wants us to have eternal life, but we are dirty creatures in need of a Savior. That savior is God, our Creator and embodied in the person Jesus Christ.
John 5:46
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.