What makes Israel distinctive as a people?

Les teaches that as soon as Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldee, God separated him from the mainstream of humanity and promised that out of that one man would come a distinctive race and nation, the nation of Israel. What makes them distinctive is that from the very onset of the promise to Abraham until they were finally dispersed after rejecting their king, Israel had it constantly drummed into their mindset that they were a special, called-out, separated, covenant people of God, and all their promises are earthly. Therefore, they are referred to as God's earthly people. Les also clarifies that when he said there is nothing in the Old Testament about a Jew dying and going to heaven, he meant concerning their eternal abode. Old Testament saints went to paradise, and even today a believer goes to paradise. But in their resurrected state, Jews as believers will not be a heavenly people; they will be an earthly people. Consequently, even in their life in the flesh, all of Israel's promises were earthly, which is why so many of them had tremendous wealth, and Abraham was a wealthy man.