The US-Israel Biblical link
THE word Israel is mentioned no less than 11,000 times in the Bible. Relatedly, there are countless prophecies in the Bible about Israel – especially on the end times. No wonder, many Bible prophecy teachers call Israel “God’s timepiece” or “God’s time clock.”
*** Today, many people are asking why the modern state of the Hebrews/Jews is called Israel. Understandably so. The state of Israel is the only state/nation that has been exposed to sustained publicity since Biblical times up to this time. One wonders why Israel, a tiny state about the size of New Jersey in US, continues to fascinate and capture world attention. *** Let me share with you how the particular name Israel was chosen for the State of Israel. It all started with the story of Jacob wrestling with God found in the Book of Genesis. This first Book in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible is referred to by many as the Book of Generations. The book records man’s history for the first 2,000 years and traces the family records of God’s chosen line from Adam to Jacob and Joseph. The Book of Genesis then is rich in human characters and events. Basically, there are four great events, namely the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the Babel crises, and four great figures, namely Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, in the Book of Genesis. They highlight God’s sovereignty and supremacy.
*** One of the great figures in the Book of Genesis is Jacob, son of Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham. Of the long narration in the Book of Genesis about the life of Jacob, an episode in his life stands out. I am referring to the account of Jacob’s wrestling with God. In Chapter 32:28 of the Book of Genesis we find the following account of Jacob wrestling with God: “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob”, he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”
There is a story that a small group presided by David Ben-Gurion who later became modern Israel’s prime minister was formed at the time the Jewish state would be declared independent. It was to decide on the name of the modern state of the Jews/Hebrews. A vote was held and the name “Israel” won by 7 – 3. From Wikipedia: “Israel means wrestles with God or Triumphant with God. Jacob’s descendants came to be known as the Israelites, eventually forming the tribes of Israel and ultimately the kingdom of Israel, whence came the name of the modern-day State of Israel.”
*** In another Biblical account in Chapter 35 in the Book of Genesis, God appeared to Jacob. “And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.” (Genesis 35:10-12, King James Version)
*** From this Biblical account, we see that the Israelites are God’s chosen people and God’s special people. Indeed, God mentions many times in the Holy Bible how much He cares for the people of Israel. No wonder, the Israelites pride themselves as being the apple of God’s eyes! In both Biblical and historical accounts, we see a pattern where nations and/or wicked rulers who “touched” the Israelites, the apple of God’s eyes, suffered swift and pitiful judgment.
*** This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own copies. If interested, please send your letter-request to Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5233 LRV Building, Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible that is preferred.