All About Israel: The Bible and Religion From God’s Perspective

By Mel Constance

“All About Israel” is a helpful guide for lay persons, clergy or professors who want to know more about the nation of Israel, God, the Bible and religion in general.

Discover the perfect covenant delivered to the Israelites that gave King Solomon so much wisdom and peace in his land for 40 years of his reign. And the same covenant that our Savior and Messiah taught that affords us entrance into his new Kingdom.

Dr. Mel Constance discovered that by seeing the Bible and religion from God’s perspective and living by the same Covenant God gave to the Israelites has given her as much wisdom, peace and joy in her life as it gave to King Solomon. You can now discover how to bring the same wisdom, peace and joy to your own life with the beautiful covenant God and Christ gave that extends to all mankind.

“All About Israel” is a biblical commentary and historical biography of the nation of Israel, their struggles, mistakes, migrations and the repentance message Christ came to deliver to the entire nation that provides continued education of biblical and religious studies. It also provides inspiration for general self-help and personal spiritual enlightenment to understand the whys of evil in our world today.

The “All About Israel” ebook contains a whole new chapter that the print edition doesn’t have, on why evil exists that was taken from her supplemental booklet titled “Why Evil Exists and How To Stop It.”

The information packed into this historical book of “All About Israel” is so valuable to our lives and our very existence that you will find it immensely rewarding to know God is for you and not against you.

Even if you know the Bible well, you will find it enlightening to see how Dr. Constance explains the Bible from God’s perspective. This treasured work will truly change your perspective and your life. Invite the love of this covenant into your life, and success and wealth will follow.

From a biblical perspective, no other book about religion, the Bible, and the nation of Israel covers so much material so thoroughly. For aspiring and practicing professors and clergy, or anyone who wants a better understanding of God, religion, the Bible and the Lost Tribes of Israel, “All About Israel” is an invaluable reference and perfect companion to the Bible.

Includes visual aids of maps, charts and timelines for enhanced understanding.

Contains “Reading Group Guide Questions and Points of Discussion” at the end.

Target Audience: Christians, Jews, Messianics, Pastors, Clergy, Ministry Leaders, Religious Educators, and every God, Christ and Bible believing person who wants a better life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mel Constance
• Release date: Feb 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005060299

Mel Constance

Dr. Mel Constance is a 35+ year Bibliologian and Theologian and the author of three biblical life improvement books. Her Christian and Pastor Resource website http://www.TenacityDandP.com and books explain religion from God’s perspective and shows what human perspectives have missed that causes so much damage and disease in a person’s life. They are excellent resources for clergy or individuals for living a Blessed life.

Book preview

All About Israel

The Bible & Religion from God’s Perspective

By Mel Constance

A Tenacity Publication

Tenacity Design and Publishing

TenacityDandP.com

All About Israel – The Bible & Religion From God’s Perspective

eBook Copyright 2022 by Mel Constance

Published by Tenacity Design and Publishing at Smashwords

PO Box 82475, Phoenix, AZ 85071-2475

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or stored in a retrieval or electronic system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without written permission from the copyright owner.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer

This book is intended as a religious reference only. Even though the Bible specifically links diseases to sin, readers should not use this book as a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone who has a serious disease should continue their medical treatment prescribed by their physician while instituting any changes in their religious beliefs. People should never make medical changes without first consulting their physician. The information found in this book is designed to help you make informed choices about your life, health and religion.

Dedication:

I write this book for all people who strive to live by God’s right ways but have been confused by the various views, opinions, arguments and interpretations that the different sources have given. These various views, opinions and arguments have provided the base of all religious studies and my desire to help people to understand the Bible, God and the nation of Israel better.

In today’s society many people are struggling to understand why there are so many diseases and disasters. This companion book to the Bible will give the reader a better understanding of all the concepts God and Christ say we need to know to have good lives, and from a perspective most people haven’t thought of or seen.

I dedicate this book to all who have been given the power to be an overcomer and to rule with El (God). May your blessed lives from living by God’s commands be a testimony to the peoples around you of who the true Almighty Creator is.

I also dedicate this book to my Heavenly Father Yahweh the God and Creator of all, and his one and only son Messiah Yahshua who redeemed me from my sins and inspired me with their perfect religion. I love you.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Israel’s Beginnings

2. Exodus and Greatness

3. Israel’s Downfall

4. Why Evil Exists

5. Israel’s Warnings

6. Israel’s Captivity

7. The Start of Judaism

8. Israel in New Testament

9. The Apostate Church & 100+ Religions

10. Message of Repentance

11. Restoration

12. Conclusion

Bibliography

About the Author - Mel Constance

Discover other Titles by Mel Constance

The Incomplete Person

In Pursuit Of Salvation

Reading Group Guide Questions and Points of Discussion

Full Table of Contents

Preface

1. Israel’s Beginnings

> Beginnings

> Who are Arabs

> Who are Israelites? A Race Set Apart

2. Exodus and Greatness

> Establishment of Covenant

> Establishment of Greatness

> Commandments and Sabbath

> Righteousness, Works, Faith and Legalism

> Israel Timeline Graph

3. Israel’s Downfall

> Downfall is Baal

> Righteous and Unrighteous Rulers

> Consequences of Sin

> Pagan / Witchcraft Idolatry

> Satan’s Role

> Who is Satan and Does He Really Exist?

> Do We Really Have Demons and Devils?

4. Why Evil Exists

> Why is evil a Problem?

> How Does the Bible Describe Evil?

> How God Uses Others to Punish Us.

> Is God Free to Prevent Evil?

> Why God Uses Evil to Test Us.

> Why are There So Many Damaging Storms?

5. Israel’s Warnings

> Warnings from Prophets

> The Prophet’s Warnings About God’s Name

6. Israel’s Captivity

> Before and During Captivity

> Consequences From God While in Captivity

> After Captivity

> Wanderings and Earth-wide Spread

7. The Start of Judaism

> Before the Destruction of the Temple

> Judah’s Return and the Re-Building of the Temple

> Ezra’s Return

> Continuation of the Great Assembly

> Who Were the Jews and What was Their Religion?

> God’s Perspective

8. Israel in New Testament

> History

> How Early Church Got Started

9. The Apostate Church & 100+ Religions

> Apostate Church

> How False Doctrines Start

> How Does Philosophy Play a Role in Evil?

> The Start of Philosophy

> How Does Theology Play a Role In Evil?

> The Dangers of Establishing ORD’s

> Major Worldly Religions - Judaism, - Islam Religion, - Zoroastrianism

> How Can I Avoid Evil Happening To Me?

> Beginnings of Reform

10. Message of Repentance

11. Restoration

> Re-Defining Religion

> Christian – Jewish Fusion

12. Conclusion

Bibliography

About the Author - Mel Constance

Discover other Titles by Mel Constance

The Incomplete Person

In Pursuit Of Salvation

Reading Group Guide Questions and Points of Discussion

NOTE: Number listings for Strong’s Concordance definitions are listed with two different letters.

H is for the Hebrew or Old Testament definition.

G is for the Greek or New Testament definition

Sample: Prosper – 7919H, 2137G

Dictionary Abbreviations used:

(SED) Standard Encyclopedic Dictionary

(Web) Webster’s New World College Dictionary

(M-W) Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Preface

Over the years I have come to realize that Christians don’t really understand their Hebraic roots, the Jewish people don’t really understand the Christian faith and neither group understands the Bible or religion from God’s perspective. With the numerous religions we have in our world today, it makes it difficult to live by the precepts God gives for a blessed life. It also makes it very confusing as to which religion God says we are to live by.

This book focuses on the Bible and the messages taught in it from God’s perspective only so both groups can have a better understanding of the Bible, the Israelite people and what God and Christ really teach.

The purpose of this book is to shed some light on the entire nation of Israel, who they are, where they are, their migration wanderings since leaving their Assyrian captivity, what their purpose in life is and what we can learn from them and their mistakes. The book also covers the Judean religion, how and when it got started, and the reason for the persecutions the Jewish people have been suffering from for centuries.

As we come nearer to the end of the age we should all be joined in a common purpose to invest in ours and our children’s future, and to make smarter choices for our lives. Our race, religion, or political opinion shouldn’t separate us and our goals to improve our lives and economy. The smarter choices we need to make are hinged on our education. Our education in the scriptures is the absolute key issue that gives all the necessary information we need as individuals and as a nation to be successful in all we do. Only after we get a proper education can we make the changes for a better world.

As we explore the Bible from God’s perspective the answers we need will show themselves to be practical and common sense in nature and will show the errors we have made over the centuries.

A 2001 report on the number of religions in the world identifies 10,000 distinct religions, with 150 of them having 1 million or more followers. Within Christianity alone there are 33,830 denominations. This book will help to inform the reader how to discern which of them is the most accurate religion to have that brings the most blessings from God.

This book will prove its weight in gold not only from a biblical stance but also from an historical stance as well to help biblical and historical educators everywhere. Since all of the population is descendant from Noah and Abraham, then that means that we are all related in some form or another through our ancestors. There are no land, race or religious boundaries to our heritage to each other and the Twelve Tribes of Israel that many of us are descendant from. This book will also prove its worth from a genealogical standpoint to help readers trace their heritage back further than they ever thought possible. So, this book is basically a bibliography of the entire nation of Israel.

With that said, we will start off with a few interesting statistics of religions and the Bible itself, along with the main themes in Israel’s and the world’s history that has caused so much confusion, problems, diseases, pain, suffering and persecutions to the descendants of Israel today.

Israel is mentioned in the Bible 2570 times. They are mentioned in 34 of the 39 books of the Old Testament and in 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Their mention starts in Genesis and goes all the way through to the book of Revelations. That means the whole Bible is all about the nation of Israel – God’s chosen people. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, the Bible nevertheless, is an Israelite book. It was written basically by Israelites, about Israelites and for Israelites.

The Bible indicates that no nation but Israel has ever really known or understood the will of Almighty Yahweh. Ps 147:19-20 He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel...

The descendants of Israel today that live in harmony with the creator and his righteous commandments are able to understand the Bible and the bigger picture that God has planned for his people for the end times. The information contained in this book are the revelations that God has been giving me for these end times to help people return to him and correct the misconceptions that are rampant in our world today.

This book will isolate Bible truth from theological errors. With the over 10,000 different religions we have in our world today, it’s easy to become confused as to which religion to accept and live by. All the different doctrines we have now brings confusion to all the people who desire to live by the correct one according to God but don’t know which the correct one is.

Many theologians and professors have questioned Yahweh, rather than humbly accepting the Bible literally on face value. It is not man’s job to question Yahweh or Christ. It is our job to only humbly accept and obey their authority of what they say we are to do in order to receive salvation. Even though salvation might be a free gift from Christ, it only comes when we obey him in everything.

There have been many theological errors made over the centuries which have caused even the best theologians to not understand the reason for the distress our world is in now. With this book, it is my hope to help others understand the errors that have been made and restore the sound doctrines the Bible teaches that would unravel the mysteries contained in it.

With all of these different religions we have, we may have unknowingly adopted certain objectionable practices from our ancestors, practices which Yahweh designates as sin in his word and which could separate us from his Holy Spirit and blessings. This book will help to sort out the truth from the misconceptions so our sins no longer separate us from the goodness that God has in store for us.

Our world today is beset by an overwhelming amount of problems, diseases, pain and suffering. Incurable diseases ravage the world’s population with escalating pandemic dimensions. People have been asking Why? but have not been getting the answers they need.

The answers we seek are contained in the knowledge and wisdom of the scriptures and are indispensable if we are to find salvation. I don’t understand why the people of today reject these messages coming from the very mouth of God, when they are the only messages that have the power to save them from their troubles and diseases.

Every God, Christ and Bible believing person should desire to know what our heavenly Father wishes us to do, and then never allow ourselves to be swayed by the opinions of men. The Heavenly Father intends that we should live the kingdom way of life so that we as his children may learn to be his disciples as well. The good tidings, blessings and salvation of God are firmly fixed in the original Hebrew / Israelite religion and has been extended to all nations all over the world.

Israel has been released from slavery several times. The first time was from Egypt, then from the surrounding nations that oppressed them, and now need to be released again in our present day from the false doctrines that enslave them. The last time they went into slavery they never returned because they never repented. God is giving them another chance to return to him in these last days through the knowledge of the revelations that he has given me to expose the errors of the false doctrines that enslave them.

The first few chapters of the book of Judges is characterized by Israel falling into sin then crying out for deliverance. Every time they sinned Yahweh would turn them over to punishment by turning them over into the hands of oppressors. When they could no longer tolerate their situation, they would cry out to Yahweh for help. After Yahweh helped them they were able to live in peace and safety for a while until they sinned again.

Yahweh has heard their cries in these last days. This book is Yahweh’s (the Heavenly Father’s) explanation of today’s diseases and troubles and the solutions to restore his truth, to release Israel and Christians from the slavery of pagan idols and false religions they have chosen over Yahweh’s pure religion, and to restore health and prosperity to the whole earth. This call extends to all people of the world who are being held in bondage to the false concepts of religion which were begun in Old Testament times.

Those who are diligent in their studies will find that the information contained in this book is based on actual scriptures and interpreted with other scriptures so that nothing contradicts the plain truth of the scriptures. This book contains information that is found in the Bible and other available Bible and dictionary references that can be easily obtained by those who desire to expand on their own studies.

This book will teach you how to see religion from God’s perspective. It will give you the solid answers to life’s difficult questions. And it will help you ‘find’ God and know him personally to receive the same abundant blessings I have received from him.

May your studies bless you as much as they have me to bring you closer to God, Christ and their wonderful blessings.

NOTE:

I ask that everyone who reads this book - no matter what religious faith you may be of - to please read it with an open mind and a humble heart in order to see the perspective God sees. Seeing religion from God’s perspective would help to explain all the major religious and life issues we are dealing with in our world today. Those issues include minor squabbles between similar faiths to the major wars Israel is facing from their surrounding neighbors. This book explains the Why of all our religious and social issues we face in the world today, and what God wants us to do in order to restore peace and harmony to our ravished world.

Chapter 1. - Israel’s Beginnings

At the beginning of Genesis, we see how God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden. At that point in time, God created man to have a relationship with him. From the very beginning of creation, God has always wanted to have a special relationship with man.

After Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of the garden, God’s relationship with man changed. They were no longer able to have conversations with each other, like Adam and Eve were able to do with God.

The ten generations between Adam and Noah spanned about a thousand years. During this time, God sat back and watched to see how mankind would live without God influencing them in their lives. In Gen 6:5-6 we read, And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented God that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

This shows that God does have a heart and that he grieves just as much as man does. He has always been a loving God and wanted to be loved for the loving person he is, and wanted to be needed as the God who can give to those who love him. Apparently, during these thousand years of time, Satan had more influence over people than God did. At this point, God decided to destroy the inhabitants of the earth.

Due to humans corrupting themselves by not living a righteous life, the Heavenly Father had to wipe the earth clean of all the people who existed in Noah’s time. Noah and his family were the only ones that the Heavenly Father found to be righteous enough to keep alive, to continue the line of mankind on the earth. Righteousness with God is not just a blood line; it is also a behavior that God looks for to determine who he chooses to continue the line.

In Gen 6:12: God says he looked upon the earth, and, behold it was corrupt, for all the flesh had corrupted his way upon earth. Gen 7:1 goes on to say, And God said unto Noah. Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

After the flood subsided and Noah and his family left the ark, God says in 9:9, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you. 9:18-19 goes on to say, And the sons of Noah that went forth of the ark, were, Shem, Ham and Japheth, and Ham is the father of Canaan, these are the three sons of Noah; and of them was the whole earth populated. This is where the lineage of Israel starts, way back in Noah’s time after the flood.

After Noah and his sons started to re-populate the earth, God stopped interacting with man for a while, to watch and see what mankind would do. It looks like there were a few hundred years that God was silent, between the times he last spoke to Noah and when he spoke to Abram. During those few hundred years while the earth was being re-populated by Noah’s descendants, the inhabitants lived as they pleased.

Only in Abram, did God find the righteousness he sought to continue the line of the Israel seed. I won’t bore you with the lineage of all three sons, but I have made a chart of the lineage from Noah’s first son, Shem, down to Jacob. The chart on page 16 shows how long each person lived and how old each one was when they had their first child. I think it is fascinating to see how long some of these people lived. The lineage shows that there were ten generations from Noah to Abram.

The lineage from Noah’s second son, Ham, became the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, of Arabia and eastward to the Euphrates River, which is now considered the land of Iraq. Gen 10:8-11 tell us that from Ham came Cush, and from Cush came Nimrod. Then Nimrod built the kingdom of Babel, which is now called Babylon and lies along the Euphrates River. Genesis chapter 11 tells us about how everyone, everywhere, spoke the same language. The people decided to build a city and a huge tower to try to reach unto heaven. Then the Heavenly Father decided this was not a good thing for them to do, for they were trying to build a one-world government. So he confounded their language (gave them multiple languages) so they could not understand each other. Verse eight goes on to say, So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of the earth; and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel, because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Now we come to Abram and his descendants. In Gen 15:18, we read about the covenant that God will make with Abram’s seed. God says to Abram, In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hitites, the Perizzites, the Rephatims, the Ammorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. Ezek 27:21 also gives a clue to the area that they inhabited, saying; Arabia, and all the princes of Ke’dar... The land they inhabited then and now is Arabia. This covers all of the land of Saudi Arabia including the land of Canaan.

Now, we will see who all these people are and how they are linked to Abram. Since Abram’s wife, Sarai, was barren and past child-bearing age when God told Abram that he would have a child, Sarai gave her Egyptian handmaid, named Hagar, to Abram. Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Abram’s first son, Ishmael.

Then in Gen 17:4-5, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, saying, for a father of many nations have I made thee. The Heavenly Father then goes on to change Sarai’s name to Sarah, and blesses her so that she may bear a child, which she did at the age of 90, when Abraham was 100 years old. Abraham’s second son’s name was Isaac. After Sarah passed away, Abraham took a third wife and begat six more children (Gen 25:4). So in all, Abraham had eight sons.

In Genesis 17, God explains to Abraham that part of the covenant that he will make with Abraham and his seed requires circumcision in the flesh, for an everlasting covenant. He then instructs Abraham and all his seed and other members of his household to be circumcised in their flesh. It says Abraham was 99 years old and Ishmael was 13 years old when they were circumcised.

We find in Gen 17:20 how God will bless Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, by saying I will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly, twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But he also says that he will only establish his covenant with Abraham’s next son, Isaac, who will be born from Sarah.

Who are the Arabs?

The Arabs and other Middle Eastern nations in that region are the descendants of Ishmael’s 12 sons and Abraham’s six other children that he had with his third wife, after Sarah passed away. Many of these nations are now of the Muslim faith. They cover the countries of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria.

Ishmaels 12 sons are listed in Gen 25:13-16 as Ne-ba’-joth, Ke’-dar, Ad’-be-el, Mib’-sam, Mish’-ma, Du’-mah, Mas’-sa, Ha’-dar, Te’-ma, Je’-tur, Na’-pish, and Ked’-e-emah. God says, These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their towns, and by their castles; 12 princes according to their nations.

Gen 16:12 tells us what kind of nature he and his descendants will have with the rest of the nations around him. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him, and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. It is for this reason, as well as the fact that Ishmael lost his inheritance and was no longer the blessed descendant once Isaac was born, that the Arab peoples are so much against Israel and all the other nations around them.

Abraham’s other sons with his third wife, Keturah, are listed in (Gen 25:1-6). Keturah gave him six sons: Zim’-ran, Jok’-shan, Me’-dan, Mid’-i-an, Ish’-bak, She’-ba, and De’-dan. Abraham later sent all of them eastward, unto the east countries. (Verse 25:6) These all became great nations as well. Verse 18 tells us, and they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria. This covers the land of Canaan and the northeastern part of Arabia, which is now called Iraq.

These nations also were against the descendants of Isaac, since they were also rejected not only by God, but by their father, Abraham, as well. In Gen 25:5-6 Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac, but unto the sons of the concubine, Abraham gave gifts and sent them away.

Imagine how hurt and angry you would be if you were denied any inheritance, but were sent away as though you were bringing shame onto the family just by your presence. It is no wonder all of the nations in the Middle East are against Israel. And the problem started, first, with Abraham’s unwillingness to wait on God’s timing for Sarah to become pregnant, and second, by having more children after Isaac was born and then publicly rejecting them.

Then there was Jacob’s twin brother, Esau, who God also made into a great nation (Gen 36:1-8). These passages tell us that Esau took his three wives from the daughters of Canaan and also lived on Mount Se’-ir, in the land of Canaan. They are known as Edomites.

The mass of land that God gave them is the entire land of Arabia, including the land of Canaan. This is why the Arabs are so much at war with Israel over the land that Israel now possesses. It is because God originally gave it to these other peoples and then took it away, to give it to the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

All these tribes, 18 to begin with plus the nation of Esau, had about 75 years of procreating before the sons of Jacob had even been born. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. By then, Ishmael was already 14 years old. Isaac did not beget Esau and Jacob until he was 60 years old. Jacob did not beget his 12 sons until after he served Laban, his father-in-law, for 14 years, making him at least in his 30’s or 40’s when his first son was born (Gen 29:1-30). That gives the other sons of Abraham 75 to 100 years to procreate, before all of Jacob’s sons were born.

Jacob and his family lived in the land of Canaan, along with the other descendants of Abraham, up until the time of the great famine. Jacob’s eleventh son, Joseph, was 17 years old when his brothers sold him to Ishmaelite traders (descendants of Abraham’s son, Ishmael) who were on their way to Egypt. Joseph was 30 years old when the Pharaoh of Egypt made him a governor, before the time of the seven good years to stock up on grain and the seven bad years of famine started. By the time Jacob moved to Egypt to be with his son, Joseph, during the famine, he was 130 years old. Joseph had been in Egypt for 22 years and was 39 years old when the rest of his family joined him in Egypt. All these nations/tribes continued to procreate for another 430 years in the land of Canaan and Arabia, while the children of Jacob/Israel spent those 430 years in Egypt until the Exodus, when they returned to the land of Canaan.

When the children of Jacob/Israel went into Egypt, there were a total of 70 persons in that house. When they emerged from Egypt 430 years later, they were a nation of about 3 to 5 million people (Ex 12:37). Of that three-million-plus people, there were 600,000 men, an average of four children per family, possibly more, and women. If the 12 tribes of Israel grew to about 3 million people in 430 years, imagine how large the 19 other tribes of Abraham, living in Arabia, grew in 530 years. It is very likely that they grew to a nation of 8 to 10 million people, or more.

All the other nations that descended from Abraham’s seven other sons became polytheistic people, who worshipped many gods and idols. It was due to the polytheistic nature of these people that God chose the descendants of Isaac and Jacob as his servant people, instead of any of the other Arab nations. It wasn’t until 600 A.D that these people changed their polytheistic religion to what it is now as their monotheistic religion of Islam.

Since they were all descendants of Abraham, the non-Israelite Arab nations had many of the same physical characteristics that the Israelites had, with the exception of Esau’s descendants, who gained his hairy characteristic. This made them all so appealing to the Israelites, who intermingled with and married them. It is also the reason why the Israelites could not tell by looks alone that they were not of the same religious stock that God had chosen for his own, for they also kept the tradition of circumcision commanded in Gen 17:10, 23-27.

Who are the Israelites? A Race Set Apart.

Before Jacob and his family journeyed into Egypt, we find that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel and a special covenant was given that God was going to establish with these people.

Before Jacob and his family journeyed into Egypt, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel and a special covenant was given, that God would establish with these people. In Genesis 32:24-30, we find the passage that describes Jacob wrestling with a man who was really an angel. Verse 26-30 say, And he said let me go for the day breaketh, and he said I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. and he said unto him, what is thy name? and he said Jacob. And he said, thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hath prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, tell me I pray thee, thy name. And he said Wherefore is it that thou ask after my name? and he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Peniel means face of God.

Then in Gen 35:10, Yahweh also changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Israel means, a man who rules with El, or, he shall rule as El, or, he shall rule with El. The name, Israel, also implies an overcomer. An Israelite is someone who is raised up from the human level to the supernatural or spiritual level. The word, Israel, is a combination of three words. Ish, in Hebrew, means man, ra means ruler, and el is a title of the Heavenly Father and means, the Almighty.

God himself chose the race of people who became the progeny of Abraham and Sarah, through their son Isaac. God declares in Gen 17:21, But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee. Gen 21:12 reaffirms this fact with, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. These were to be God’s own people, to serve him and fulfill His purpose on earth as His kingdom people.

God took both racial and individual traits into consideration when He selected Abraham and his seed, choosing them from among all the families of the earth to carry out certain assigned tasks. Their Divine purpose was to establish righteousness throughout the world.

God also explained why he chose Abraham in (Gen 18:19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Thus in rearing his children, Abraham was to surpass others in exercising righteousness and authority, and his household was to be obedient to him. His descendants also were to be distinctive among all races in keeping the way of God and in the administration of justice. This Excellency was not a matter of superiority; it was a special gift from God so that they might fulfill His will. Since man cannot be righteous in himself, he still needed the laws of a school master, to teach him right from wrong.

From the beginning, a special relationship was to exist