The Nation of Israel
The name Israel is taken from the Bible, and to understand its meaning, the Bible would be the authority to get our information on the Nation. The first place where the name Israel is mentioned is in the book of Genesis
Gen.32:24– “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of day”.
Verse 27: And He said to him, “what is thy name”? And he said “Jacob.” Vs. 28 “And he said, 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”.
The name Jacob means heel catcher or supplanter because he succeeded over his brother Esau and his father in law Laban. The name Israel means “he will rule as God”. The name Jacob pertains to physical seed and the name Israel pertains to Spiritual seed and means he will rule as God. Scripture gives us the formula for this.
Genesis 1:27, Adam was crated and in Genesis 2:7 Adam was formed.
Isaiah 43:1. “but now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob and He that formed thee, O Israel.
This is the same process as being a parent; first the birth (creation) then the forming (molding character).
To follow Jacob’s and sometimes Israel’s life journey, we read in Gen. 29 and 30 that Jacob had two wives and the two wives had two concubines and all together they bore him 12 sons and one daughter. These sons would eventually become known as the 12 tribes of Israel. Each tribe was named after each of his sons and each tribe grew into a multitude of people, thus becoming, when joined together, “the nation of Israel”. The nation would enjoy peace and prosperity as long as they obeyed God.
All of Israel was united under King David and his son Solomon but the generations that would follow were to have its problems because of not obeying the voice of God. Eventually the nation would separate and become known as the House of Judah and the House of Israel.
“House of Judah” made up of Judah, Benjamin and part of the tribe of Levi.
TheHouse of Israel, comprising of the ten remaining tribes would be identified by the name Ephraim, the second son of Joseph.
We can read of what happened to the “ House of Israel”,
Jeremiah 3: 8, “ And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah ( House of Judah) feared not but went and played the harlot also.
The “House of Israel” was scattered and traveled over the Caucasus Mountains and eventually became known as Caucasians.
Even though God had problems with the “ House of Judah”, God didn’t divorce her as He did with the House of Israel because Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem of Mary whose father was of the tribe of Judah, so it would be a law abiding birth, and not one of fornication. God always works out His purpose within His own laws.
The first time the “ House of Judah “ would be called by the name Jews is found in,
Second Kings 16: 6, At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews ( House of Judah ) from Elath : and the Syrians came to Elath and dwelt there unto this day.
By the time of Jesus ministry, the Jews, years earlier were placed under the yoke of the Romans because of not obeying God’s voice. Deuteronomy 28:48 In God’s mercy, the Jews’ only obligation was to pay tribute to Cesar.
Luke 2: 4, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called the city of Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David: ) Verse 5, To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Some of the good figs( Jews ) as found in Jeremiah the 24th chapter were believers of the ministry of Jesus but the other Jews ( bad Figs ) wouldn’t have Jesus rule over them and had Jesus put to death with the help of the Romans.
In 70 A D, Rome was destroyed and the so called Jews were scattered.
In the year 1948, the United Nations, unwittingly and by divine providence, allowed the scattered people of the “ House of Judah” to return to the Middle East and they took for themselves the name Israel and the blessing given to Joseph’s two sons.
Gen. 48: 11, And Israel said unto Joseph, “I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed”. Verse13, And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand towards Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. Verse 14, And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. Verse 16, “ The angel Which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named upon them.”
Notice that in verse 10 that Israel’s eyes were dim for age that he could not see. Israel actually made a cross with his arms over the heads of the lads contrary to the expectations of Joseph. The action could only be done through Divine Inspiration.
The prophecy concerning both houses is recorded in the book of Genesis.
Genesis 49:10, The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Concerning Joseph; Genesis 49: 22, “ Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall. Verse 26, “ the blessing of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of thy progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph and on the crown of him that was separated from his brothers.”
1 Chronicles 5: 2, For Judah (Jews) prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler, (Scepter) but the birthright was Joseph’s.
The Jews occupying the Middle East today have taken the birthright name given to the seed of Joseph and adopted it for themselves. Either by ignorance or by not understanding the scriptures. Hopefully they will see the error for themselves.
Today, most people don’t realize that both the house of Judah and the house of Israel are still separated and are not complete as an entire nation, not as in the days of King David.