Jacob was a fugitive fleeing for his life. He had impatiently deceived his father, Isaac, into giving him the birthright blessing that belonged to his brother, Esau. When Esau learned about the deception, he vowed to kill his brother. Jacob fled to the home of relatives, but on the way, he had a dream in which he saw a ladder connecting earth and heaven. God spoke to him: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.… And in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen. 28:13, 14.
Years passed. Jacob now had wives and children. One day God told him to return to the land of Canaan. Jacob knew he would face Esau, who was still angry about the stolen birthright. The night before their meeting, Jacob prayed. His heart was heavy with guilt, and he sought evidence that God had forgiven him.
Suddenly, a man grabbed him. Jacob thought he was being attacked. He did not realize at first that he was wrestling with God! When the heavenly messenger begged to be released, Jacob exclaimed, “I will not let You go, unless You bless me!” Gen. 32:26. God responded, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” V. 28.
Jacob the “deceiver” had become Israel the “overcomer.” This first occurrence of the name Israel in the Bible reveals that it is a spiritual name, symbolizing a spiritual experience between an individual and God. Throughout the rest of Scripture, those who choose to be in a covenant relationship with God are the true Israel.
Exodus 4:22, 23 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me.”’”
When a famine hit the land of Canaan, the 12 sons of Jacob moved to Egypt with their families. Four hundred years later, they had become a great nation, and God sent Moses to deliver Israel out of Egyptian bondage.
2. How did God show His commitment to the nation of Israel?
Exodus 6:4, 7 “I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan.… ‘I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.’”
God desired to have a personal relationship with Israel just like He’d had with their fathers. He covenanted to be their God, and they would be His people.
3. What was required of Israel for them to remain the covenant people of God?
Exodus 19:5 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”
Deuteronomy 28:1 “If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.”
Israel’s future national greatness and status as God’s chosen people was conditional upon her obedience to God’s law. Exod. 20.
Isaiah 49:6 “I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Israel’s primary reason for existence was to bring God’s salvation to the world. As they faithfully followed God, the heathen would see the prosperity attending them and make inquiry as to how they might experience these same blessings. See Zech. 8:21–23. This would give Israel an opportunity to invite them to enter into the same covenant with God. Sadly, rather than being a witness to the nations, Israel followed their example in worshiping pagan gods.
2. Because Israel failed to fulfill her mission, what would God have to do?
Matthew 21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”
Because the nation of Israel had failed to fulfill God’s purposes, another “Israel” would be required. God would raise up a people that would bear spiritual fruit. How would He do this?
| Israel | Jesus |
| Hosea 11:1 — Israel, God’s son, is called out of Egypt. | Matt. 2:15 — Jesus, God’s Son, is called out of Egypt. |
| 1 Cor. 10:2 — Israel crosses the Red Sea and is “baptized...in the sea.” | Matt. 3:15–17 — Jesus is baptized in the Jordan “to fulfill all righteousness.” |
| Num. 32:13 — Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness of temptation. | Mark 1:13 — Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness “tempted by Satan.” |
| Ps. 80:8 — Israel is called a “vine.” | John 15:1 — Jesus says, “I am the true vine.” |
| Isa. 41:8; 42:1–3 — Israel is called God’s servant and is given a mission of mercy. | Matt. 12:18–20 — Christ is the ultimate Servant on a mission of mercy. |
| Isa. 49:6 — Israel is called to be a light to the Gentiles. | John 8:12 — Jesus is the light of the world. |
| 2 Sam. 7:12, 16 — God promised to establish King David’s throne forever. | Luke 1:32; Dan. 7:14 — Jesus, the final King on David’s throne, has an everlasting kingdom. |
These similarities are no coincidence! The New Testament reveals that what once applied to the nation of Israel now applies to Christ. Where Israel failed, Christ succeeded.
2. Who is the ultimate seed of Abraham?
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.
What a revelation! Jesus is the Seed of Abraham. He is the perfect Israel! This means that all the covenant promises made to Abraham and Israel are now fulfilled in Christ. See 2 Cor. 1:19, 20.
3. Who are the sons of Abraham today?
Galatians 3:7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It isn’t the nation of Israel who are the true children of Abraham. It is those who are of Christ—His church! Because Abraham was a man of faith, only those who have faith in Christ can be his spiritual children and inherit the covenant promises.
Romans 9:6–8 For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
There are two Israels mentioned in the New Testament. A literal Israel “according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3) and a spiritual “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16), who are “children of the promise” because they are “born according to the Spirit” (Gal. 4:28, 29).
2. Who makes up this spiritual Israel?
Romans 9:27 Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.
Romans 11:13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23 For I speak to you Gentiles.… If some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches…. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either…. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
Israel is compared to an olive tree whose natural branches were cut off because of their unbelief. However, a remnant remains (Rom. 11:1–5) and are joined by Gentiles who are grafted in because they “stand by faith.” Together they are fed by the same root. Paul uses this illustration to show a continuity between Israel and the church. They are not two different peoples of God with different missions, covenants, or paths to salvation. Neither is the church a replacement of Israel. Rather, Christ and His church are the true Israel and the fulfillment of God’s promises made to Israel. The Israel that is saved (Rom. 11:26) is an Israel made up of Jews and Gentiles who have been grafted in because they believe in Christ.
3. How does the Bible describe a true Jew?
Romans 2:28, 29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter.
In God’s eyes, being a true Israelite is not about ethnicity but about being born again. Anyone can be part of this spiritual Israel if they repent and ask God for a changed (“circumcised”) heart.
4. What covenant will God make with spiritual Israel?
Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.”
The covenant God tried to make with the nation of Israel is now completed in the hearts of spiritual Israel. Through the Holy Spirit’s power, His law is obeyed and lived out in their lives.
5. Who is invited to become part of spiritual Israel?
Revelation 14:6, 7 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him.”
Spiritual Israel, God’s church (here symbolized by an angel messenger), now fulfills God’s plan to draw all peoples to Himself. Jesus gave the church the Great Commission (see Matt. 28:18–20) to make disciples of all nations. Those who respond and allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives, making them loyal and obedient to God out of love (Rev. 14:12; John 14:15), will form the Israel of the last days. It is through them that God will work mightily to hasten the soon return of Christ.
God has always desired to be in a loving, covenant relationship with His people. Although the nation of Israel forfeited their position as God’s special people due to their unbelief and disobedience, God’s purpose would still be accomplished through spiritual Israel, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles. All are invited to become part of the Israel of God. Those who remain faithful will one day inherit all the covenant promises and dwell with God in a new heaven and new earth. Rev. 21:1–4.
Commitment
I want to be part of spiritual Israel and fulfill God’s purpose in my life and lead others to Him.
All Scriptures quoted are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.
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