Abraham (Abram from Macedonia) was the recipient of God's covenant for a new nation (Gen. 17:5), we all know that. But Abraham was not Israel, nor was Isaac. No, it wouldn't be until Jacob, later named Israel(Gen. 32:25), that the first Israelite would be named. Therefore, being that there was no such thing as Israel (outside of God's plan) what were those considered to be of previous generations? Gentile?
NOTE: This is in no way intended to be condescending in nature, by any means. I love and pray for Israel as we are instructed to do by God's Word (see: Romans 10:1).
All men are born wituout a understanding of a unseen God as eternal Spirit. Christian faith is not founded on the things seen the temporal. All of the froward genration the generation of Adam are considered as those of "no faith" in respect to Christ's faith or labor of love. . . a person must be born of His Spirit.
In many circles the idea of "no faith" not little but none can cause confusion. As beleivers we have little .
Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is
no faith
I would offer,. The Lord used two nations the Amorites and Hittites in order to create one new nation or family of families. Changing the name Abram meaning exulted father (singular) to Abraham the father of many families or nations (all) or what we call denominations, sects.
I believe a way to help identify the bride of Christ, the church throughout the Bible .
Israel came in the changing of Jacob signified as the deceiver who tried to rob Esau the first born ceremonial rights .Jacob literally meaning ….one who grasp the heel of another causing them to fall back .Latter the deceiver signified by the name Jacob deceived Esau, Esua saw no value in the unseen things of God (faith) sold it for a cup of goat soup..
Genisis 25: 26 And after that came his brother out, and
his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called
Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
Jacob signified as a deceiver that name was changed to Israel to represent mankind born again of the Spirit of Christ. This is seeing if any man has not the Spirit of Christ they do not belong.
.Jacob overcome by the power of God it prevailed to show Emanuel was working with him to both wil and empower to do the god pleasure of God . He failed in the flesh but was rewarded in his new spirit.
Genesis 32:28 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.
In that way all Israel were not born again Israel just as not all Christians who name the name Christ are the bride of Christ, the new creation.
In the Old Testament the promise of a new name the father would name the bride to represent all nations presently called Israel. It came to fulfillment in Acts renaming her Christian a more befitting name for the bride of Christ made up of "all the nations of the world". Christian as a demonyn (denotes the natives or inhabitants of a particular country, nation state, city, tribe family etc.)
Christian literally meaning residents of the city of Christ, named after her founder and husband Christ . A word that would seem to have lost meaning in many areas.
Isaiah 62:2 And the
Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and
all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a
new name, which the
mouth of the
Lord shall
name.
The fullfilment.
Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the
church, and taught much people. And the
disciples were
called Christians first in Antioch.