THE NATION ISRAEL - J. C. O'Hair

 

THE NATION ISRAEL 

Pastor J. C. O’Hair

The word “Israel”, (“Israelites”), is found about 2570 times in the Bible. The name “Israel” was given to Jacob, in Genesis 32:28 and Genesis 35:10: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but ISRAEL: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
Jacob (Israel) called the place where his name was changed “Peniel” (meaning the face of God); for Jacob saw God face to face, and yet his life was preserved. Something there happened to Jacob’s thigh, because God touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh. Some of God’s servants prevailed with God before Jacob became “Israel”; but let us know that from Adam to Abram, Isaac and Jacob, the human race was not divided into Jews and Gentiles. The word “Jew” first referred to Judah and his descendants, and was not used until many years after Jacob became Israel.
We learn when the word “Israel” was first used in the Bible. The meaning of the word “El” is “God”, “strength”. Israel means “power with God” or “prevailing with God.”
Jacob, or Israel, was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham. Judah was Jacob’s son. In Romans 11:28 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are called “the fathers”. God confirmed with Isaac and with Jacob (Israel) the covenants that He made with Abraham. (Genesis 28:13 - Genesis 35:12 to 27).
We learn in Exodus 32:13 that Moses pled God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to keep God’s wrath from being visited upon Israel. God redeemed Israel from Egypt, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Exodus 2:24).
In Romans 11:26 to 29 we learn that after this age of grace has come to an end, Israel’s Messiah is coming out of Zion to deliver Israel: Because of God’s covenants; “For the fathers’ sake.” In Romans 11:29 we read, “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” So Israel will surely be elected and saved. “For the fathers’ sake.” For the same reason that God saved Israel in Exodus 2:24, and Exodus 32:13, God will gather Israel from among the Gentiles and plant them in their own land. (Jeremiah 23:7 and 8 - Amos 9:11 to 15).
Note Exodus 1:5: “And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls; for Joseph was in Egypt already.”
Here we read of the birth of the nation Israel, about 1700 B. C., in fulfillment of Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of thee a great nation.” Note Hebrews 11:12: “Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”
In the “Isaiah” verses we listed above, we learn that Israel was created for God’s glory, to be God’s witnesses. Note Romans 9:4 and 5: “Who are Israelites? to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God and the promises: Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, Who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”
Here we learn that Israel, and not the Gentiles, has given to us the great spiritual and eternal blessings. As Paul said in Romans 15:27, “Gentiles have been made partakers of Israel’s spiritual things.” Then Gentiles obtained mercy, because of Israel’s unbelief. (Romans 11:30).
In John 4:22 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who was an Israelite, said, “salvation is of the Jews.” Gentiles receive the “kingdom” blessings, with the rise of Israel; and “grace” blessings, with the fall of Israel. (Romans 11:11 to 15 and Romans 11:30).
Israel gave us our Bible and our Saviour. Israel is being miraculously preserved for a glory on earth that will surpass Israel’s former glory. (Isaiah 62:1 to 4).
So then God says to Gentiles, “boast not against the branches.” “Because of unbelief they were broken off.” “Be not high minded, but fear, If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.” (Romans 11:18 to 23). The Jews, in this age of grace, are to obtain mercy by the testimony of Gentile Christians. (Romans 11:31).

 

 

Posted By – Cecil Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

 

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