The Lord Jesus was rejected as the Creator who had claims on this world (Jn. 1:10), but also specifically by the nation He had chosen.

God chose Abram out of a land of idolatry and made him into a nation which found itself under forced labor in Egypt. Their cries went up and God heard them. He sent Moses and his brother to lead the people out with a great deliverance, yet at the very first trial we witness the hardheartedness of this nation. Instead of demonstrating faith in a God who had led them out of bondage, they complain (Ex. 14:12). Just a short while later the people demand a false god to go before them (Ex. 32:1–4). Later, when the people wish for a king like the nations around them, the Lord responds to Samuel saying, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:7).

All this and more foreshadowed the ultimate rejection of their Messiah. In type we see this clearly in the life of Joseph: “And his brothers said to him, ‘Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?’ So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words” (Gen. 37:8).

Thankfully, God has not given up on His people (cf. Rom. 11), and He does not give up on us either when we falter and fail. In a coming day, they will look on Him (Zech. 12:10) and own Him, and He will reign as their King. We should not be hasty to condemn the action of God’s chosen people, for although it is astounding to see how they continually reject a God who cares for and delivers them, their actions are recorded to show us that our hearts are no different and that He remains long-suffering. May He be glorified in our walk in this world where He is still rejected by the masses.