Why is Israel called God's earthly people?

Les teaches that when Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldees, 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 made them distinctive was that from the onset of the promise to Abraham until they were 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 were earthly. That is why 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. An Old Testament saint who died went to paradise, not to stay on earth. Today, when a Jew dies, he goes to his place of reward; if a believer, to paradise. But the Jew had no concept of dying and going to heaven in their resurrected state. When Jews experience resurrection as believers, they will not be a heavenly people; they will be an earthly people. Even in their life in the flesh, all of Israel's promises were earthly, which is why so many had tremendous wealth. Abraham was a wealthy man.