Question: Was He helpless to save them? God chose Abraham and Israel not because of anything wonderful about them, but because He determined to be gracious to them and not to the rest of mankind.
Answer: Actually, God was gracious to Abraham so that the world might believe through the witness and testimony of Israel (Gen.12:3; 18:18; 22:18; cf. 26:4; Isa. 49:6; cf. 42:6). And while God’s choosing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel was not because they deserved it, it is an oft repeated Calvinist mistake to say such a choosing and covenant was unconditional (cf. Gen 15:6;17:1;22:18; 26:3-5; 31:13; 35:1-13; Gen 17:8, 14 cf. Isa. 24:5; Jer. 31:32).
[Link to the original post and comments on Ben Henshaw’s website]
