God is a loving God who would not leave His children helpless. He spoke to a chosen people (the Israelites), His leaders and prophets in dreams, visions, burning bushes, etc. to guide and protect His children. He gave them the Ten Commandments to maintain a right relationship with God. He established animal sacrifices to atone for the sins of His people. Even with atonement of sin, His People still had to use faith. He performed many miracles for all to see. God's covenant was with Israel specifically, but this fact did not exclude non-jews from making the God of Israel their God, as well. This is what is called the "Old Covenant".

It was meant to be a witness for all people and many who were not Jewish were converted. However, it proved impossible for man to keep the old covenant. Sin was too over-powering to man. So God had another plan to put into place. God's covenant with Israel was a foreshadowing of a new covenant that would be established in Jesus Christ. The old covenant with its laws, priests, tabernacles, temples, animal sacrifices, etc. was a representation of what Jesus Christ would do. The prophecies of a Savior who would bring salvation even to the gentiles (non-Jewish people) were proclaimed to the world through Israel. God chose Israel to be His light set upon a hill that could not be hidden.