20. The Second Chosen People!

20. The Second Chosen People! “‘Shem’ begot ‘Arpachshad,’ ‘Arpachshad’ begot ‘Shelah,’ ‘Shelah’ begot ‘Eber,’ and ‘Eber’ begot ‘Peleg’ and ‘Joktan.’” (Genesis 10:21-25) The fact that the Korean people are a chosen people by God is clearly confirmed by the records in the Bible. In Genesis 10:25, it states, “The descendants of ‘Eber’ were only two brothers, ‘Peleg’ and ‘Joktan,’ and later, as an adopted son, ‘Joktan’ was called ‘Hwanung’ locally. The Bible records that ‘Eber’ had two sons, one named ‘Peleg,’ for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was ‘Joktan.’” Therefore, the chosen people of God, ‘Eber,’ meaning ‘all the sons of Eber,’ refers to both the descendants of ‘Peleg’ and ‘Joktan.’ Here, Yahweh God clearly prepared the basis that the chosen people are not one but two. This is a very important revelation. Tracing the lineage of choice, it is the God of ‘Shem’ → ‘Arpachshad’ → ‘Shelah’ → ‘Eber,’ and the God of the descendants of ‘Peleg’ and ‘Joktan!’ Thus, ‘Peleg’ became the first ancestor of the chosen people, and both of his sons were distinguished as chosen people, making the descendants of ‘Peleg’ and ‘Joktan’ all chosen people. Therefore, according to the order, the descendants of ‘Peleg’ can be called the first chosen people, and the descendants of ‘Joktan’ can be called the second chosen people. Clearly, the true ancestors of the Israelites as chosen people trace back to ‘Peleg’ before ‘Abraham’ and his descendants. ‘Peleg’ became the ancestor of the chosen people, and his two sons formed the first two tribes of faith. Therefore, ‘Peleg’ and ‘Joktan’ are both ancestors of the chosen people, with ‘Eber’ being the supreme ancestor of the chosen people. However, the recognition of being chosen people disappeared among the descendants of ‘Peleg,’ and it was re-established during the time of ‘Abraham.’ Among the descendants of the first chosen people, ‘Jacob’ later became the actual and true ancestor of the chosen people, and all his twelve sons formed the twelve tribes of Israel as chosen people. In contrast, ‘Joktan’ had thirteen sons locally, but most of them became ancestors of the Arab lineage, remaining independent in that land. Therefore, when ‘Joktan’ set out eastward with the hope of forming a nation that worships God well, he already became the ancestor of the second chosen people, and those who continued the line of faith through him are the second chosen people. ‘Joktan’ was called ‘Hwanung’ in the East, and all his sons and descendants who continued the line were chosen people, but unlike the first chosen people, their consciousness of being chosen people faded, and eventually, it disappeared for a while. However, the Korean people living in the land of the Korean Peninsula later accepted the gospel and were chosen again like ‘Abraham,’ becoming another chosen people on this earth, the second chosen people. In the 21st century, as this history is newly illuminated, there is a desire to remember the fact of being the second chosen people and to fulfill that mission. However, we must not forget that, like the first chosen people, Israel, the fact of being chosen people itself can lead to pride and arrogance, which can ruin God’s plan of choosing us as chosen people. The Israelites denied the Christ sent by God, ultimately rejecting God. Moreover, they live in a contradiction of formally recognizing their chosen people status but actually denying it. Therefore, we should not become like the Israelites, the first chosen people. They do not realize that they must be restored through the Christ they persecuted in the distant future. Instead, we should not be such chosen people who unknowingly flow towards that day. God has hidden the chosen people for over 6,000 years since creation, 5,000 years since Noah, 4,000 years since ‘Abraham,’ and 2,000 years since Jesus Christ. Then, about 4,000 years after ‘Joktan’ (‘Hwanung’) set out eastward to find a new land, he entered the land of Korea, and the descendants of ‘Joktan’ met the gospel of Jesus Christ, God’s messenger, igniting the gospel in the land of the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, now, as a special people chosen by God, Koreans should not have the attitude of being treated specially but should become messengers carrying the gospel of Jesus and his word, spreading the gospel waves through missionary activities around the world. And now, remembering God’s will, who hid our people to use them today, we must fulfill the mission given to us as the second chosen people.