Defining Israel

            An accurate understanding of the name and true meaning of Israel as found in the Scriptures becomes not only a key opening up the truths of the Old and New Testaments; but also can dramatically affect your worldview whether it is merely secular, or religious. To begin an explanation of what is meant by this statement we would need first to define the word itself.  According to Strong’s Concordance the word or name Israel is defined as he will reign with God. Moving our understanding forward we will need to discover the origin of the use of the name in Scripture.  God made certain promises to Abraham which were to be realized twofold, both as to his physical progeny, but more importantly to a spiritual seed.  In the first instance of fulfillment his grandson Jacob had a transforming encounter with God at Peniel (the face of God).  There Jacob wrestled with a man insisting on receiving His blessing. The identity of this other combatant is as equally important as its outcome. It clearly was the Lord for it was recognized by Jacob that he had the authority and power to bless him, which was the supreme desire of Jacob’s heart. The hollow of Jacob’s thigh was touched symbolizing the breaking of his natural strength. The result was the changing of Jacob’s name by this One to Israel.  Jacob became the father of twelve sons which bear his name throughout the historical record of the Old Testament.

            From its natural lineage and posterity then we would see that Israel was a nation under the tenets of the Old Testament who were also recognized as being the Jews. Very close to the end of their history they were confronted with their promised Messiah, Jesus the Christ. He was generally rejected by them although a remnant from among them believed. The remaining nation was scattered and dispersed into the nations and after over nineteen hundred years again gained a national identity in May of 1948.   But is there then any sense in which this nation, whether historically or in its current state of nationhood fulfill the promise of anticipated blessing consistent with the meaning—he will reign with God?

            Examining a few Scriptures will provide for us the answer to the dilemma of defining Israel from a spiritual perspective or in other words from God’s point of view.   In a real sense it is a continuing mystery to the religious world and even those professing the Christian faith for they almost universally see Israel in the light of the physical nation.  They generally are waiting for this tiny nation state in the Middle East to reach an anticipated destiny. This will prove to be a deception.  Going back to the original promise made to Abraham we see “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and in thee shall all thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”(Genesis 12:2-3)  By following this promise of blessing into the New Testament book of Galatians we f find: “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all the nations be blessed.” (Galatians 3:7-8) And again: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He  saith not , and to seeds as many; but unto thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot  disannul, that it should make the promise of none affect.” (Galatians 3:16-17) “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, or uncircumsicion, but a new creation.  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and upon the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:15-16)  “ For he is not a Jew,  which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision, which was outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:28-29)  And one more time: “Not as though the word of God hath none effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but in Isaac shall thy seed be called, that is, they that are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”(Romans 9:6-8)  Can you see then that the Scriptures define Israel as all of those out of Israel under the old covenant that when joined with those of faith after the finished work of Christ are to compose only one people—the Israel of God. For further revelations both theologically and prophetically you would profit from rending my recent title: The Israel Deception, Mindstir Media,Amazon.com David Lance Dean  theseprophets@gmail.com Web:theseprophets.blogspot.com