Some explorations on parallels between creation and the formation of the nation of Israel
In many arenas it is evident (to me at least) that God works through processes; that is by means of small steps that gradually move towards His goal. In most, if not all, cases His chosen method of working is such that He uses "natural" processes, effectively hiding His hand. The work of God is evident only with the eyes of faith, it would (and often is) possible to describe these processes in mechanistic scientific terms that would appear satisfactory to the atheist. In this essay I want to explore parallels between two such processes; namely the creation of the physical universe and the evolution of the biological life present on this world, and the formation of the nation of Israel to be His people.
In the opening chapters of Genesis we are told that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and that He formed the man from the dust of the earth. In Genesis 12 we read that God called Abram to leave his country and people to go to a land that God would show him. The initiative to start these processes rests with God alone, He had no need to create the universe or mankind nor call Abram. There is a further parallel between the creation of mankind and the calling of Abram; Adam was formed from pre-existing material, Abram was called out of pre-existing peoples. God chose some "dirt", probably no different from the rest of the dirt on the earth, and out of that material formed Adam, breathing life into him. Similarly God chose one man out of the many people alive at the time, with no evidence that there weren't other people who would have faithfully followed Him, and as Abram came into relationship with God he found the real life that can only be found in relationship with Him.
Both the Creation and the call of Abram are accomplished by the word of God; but this is not the thunderous word of command, more the gentle word of invitation. The same word we hear from the carpenter of Nazareth who says "come, follow me". God does not throw His weight around by forcing things to happen, He is far more subtle in the way He works. It is only with the eyes of faith that the work of God is discerned.
The call of Abram was accompanied by a promise that God would bless him and his descendants, that He would create a nation from Abrams' descendents that (as we're told later) would be as numerous as the stars, and through whom God would bless the whole world. It is clear that God initiated the formation of His people, Israel, but just as clear that He did this over an extended period of time. As we follow the story through Genesis and beyond we find God at work throughout the whole process, occasionally in unusual ways (such as the birth of Isaac in Sarahs' old age) but more often in the normal processes of procreation. Without the insight of the fathful community who passed on and recorded these stories we may not even recognise the hand of God in the process.
Also, God chose to create His people through a process starting with a single individual. He did not choose one of the existing nations and make them His own, nor did He create an entire nation from nothing; both of which I'm sure were possible. The story of Israel is one of an "imperfect" people; throughout the Exodus they constantly moan, complain and rebel. The people of Israel are only special on account of the promise God made to Abaraham, that they are the people of God through whom He will bless the world.
In terms of biological creation the human race is not especially special. We evolved from common ancestors to the chimpansee, and are physically much less robust than our cousins. We have greater mental capacity, an ability to use tools and communicate abstract ideas. But other species use tools, or communicate. So why are we special? In evolutionary terms we aren't that special; but we are special because we have been chosen by God to be in relationship with Him.