 The Israelites were a people consecrated to God, and God chose them from all the peoples on earth to be God's treasured people.God chose them not because they were the most numerous of peoples, but because God favored them and kept the oath God made with their fathers.Moses told them to note that only God is God, the steadfast God who keeps God's covenant faithfully to the thousandth generation of those who love God and keep God's commandments, but who instantly requites with destruction those who reject God.