Why did God set aside Israel, and what was His dealing with humanity before Genesis 12?
God set Israel apart for a unique covenant role, making them a separated nation distinct from all other peoples, so that in Abram all the earth would be blessed. Before Genesis 12, from Adam onward, God dealt with one race of people, not yet dealing through the nation of Israel.
Les explains that the Abrahamic covenant is God’s eternal covenant; man may break it or do things with it, but that does not destroy it, because the covenant is from God and is forever. God told Abram, before he became Abraham, “I will make of thee a great nation,” to bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing. God would bless those who bless Abram and curse him who curses him, and in Abram all the earth would be blessed. Les emphasizes this so people do not think God has forgotten the non-Israelite. He is going to set aside the nation of Israel and deal with them, but before Genesis 12, all the way from Adam, God had been dealing with one race of people.