How did the Israelites become God's chosen, set-apart nation?
God supernaturally formed Israel by calling Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, promising to make him a nation, and fulfilling that promise through Isaac's supernatural birth. Through Jacob's twelve sons, who ended up in Egypt, God began to deal with the Israelites as His chosen, set-apart nation, bringing them out miraculously under Moses.
Les explains that God supernaturally brought about the nation of Israel. He called Abraham out of the Ur of the Chaldees and told him right up front, "I'm going to make of you a nation of people." God finally fulfilled the promise with the supernatural birth of Isaac, a promised son. Isaac fathers Jacob, Jacob fathers the twelve sons; they end up down in Egypt, and immediately God begins to deal with those Israelites as now His chosen, set-apart nation. He brings them out supernaturally, a miracle after miracle, and that multitude of Israelites follow their leader Moses. Les admits this is one of the toughest things for him to comprehend in Scripture.