The relationship of the Jewish people with God can be seen as like that of parent and child: as much as the parent cares for the child, the parent must prepare the child for adulthood by gradually stepping back and allowing the child to take ever greater responsibility. This overview of Jewish history sees God as preparing the Jewish people in just this way, for partnership with God in the ongoing project of bringing order to a chaotic world in order to complete an unfinished Creation; and, by setting an example, to invite all of humanity into that partnership as well.
