Why do so many people not know where the nation of Israel came from?
Many people do not know where the nation of Israel came from because the basic biblical fundamentals concerning Israel's origin have not been taught. Scripture traces the nation from Abraham's covenant promise through Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's 12 sons, including Joseph, whose story brought them into Egypt, where they multiplied and became the 12 tribes.
Les explains that people have not been taught these basic fundamentals. He recounts a man who, while searching his Bible, suddenly understood that Israel came from the same 12 sons who had sold Joseph into Egypt. Les also mentions a Sunday school teacher of 20-some years who still asked where the nation of Israel came from other than Abraham. Les traces the line: after Abraham received the covenant promise that a nation would come from him, the next in response was Isaac, then Jacob, and out of Jacob came the 12 sons, one of whom was Joseph. Because of Joseph and the grain, those 12 sons ended up in Egypt. While there with their families, they exploded in population and became the 12 tribes of Israel, whom Moses led out, took through the wilderness, and Joshua led into the land.