When did God start dealing with Israel as a particular nation?
God began dealing with Israel as a particular nation with Abraham, around 2,000 years before Christ, as recorded from Genesis 12. From that point until well into Acts, Scripture shows God primarily dealing with the Jew only, though not exclusively.
Les explains that the timeline begins way back in Genesis, where God started dealing with one nation in particular, the earthly people, Israel. From Adam to Abraham was about 2,000 years, and then around 2,000 BC came the appearance of Abraham and the nation of Israel. From Genesis 12 until well into the Book of Acts, it was primarily, not exclusively, God dealing with Jew only. Les notes exceptions such as Jonah being sent to Nineveh and the spies meeting Rahab, showing God's sovereign grace.