God sovereignly called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees and set him apart to become the father of a new race, the nation of Israel.
Abraham was originally part of the Gentile mainstream of humanity, but God called him out and promised to make him a great nation. Through the covenant, God created a distinct people through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, separate from other families. This new race became known as the Jews, and Abraham is considered their father even though he himself was not born a Jew.
Genesis 12:1-2 — God's call to Abraham and the promise to make him a great nation is the foundational event.
The Bible records that God called Abraham (then Abram) out of Ur of the Chaldees and made a covenant with him, promising to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:1-2). This covenant included the promise of a land and that through Abraham all families of the earth would be blessed. Later, God reiterated this promise to Isaac and Jacob, confirming that the line of promise would continue through them (Genesis 26:3-4, 28:13-14). The Scripture distinguishes this chosen line from the rest of humanity, as they become a separate people through whom God would work.
Les Feldick teaches that after 2,000 years of a hopeless race from Adam, God did something totally different at 2,000 B.C. by calling out one man, Abraham, from Ur of the Chaldees. God declared that from Abraham He would bring a nation of people totally different from any other race on earth, and through them He would prepare the way for salvation to go back to the whole human race. Les emphasizes that Abraham was not a Jew by blood; he was a Syrian by birth, but through God's decree of sovereignty, God separated him from his family and made him the father of the Jewish race. The first real Jew by birth was Isaac, the son of promise. This separation from the mainstream of humanity, which is the Gentile stream, marks the beginning of the nation of Israel.
According to Les Feldick, the Jewish race begins when God separated Abram out of his family in Ur of the Chaldees. By way of his wife, he had Isaac, the first Jew by birth. God refers to Abraham as the father of the Jewish people even though he came from another nationality.
Abraham was not a Jew; he was born of Syrian parents. He had brothers who were Syrians. Even after his call, his blood didn't change; he was still genetically a Syrian, but by virtue of his call and covenant promises, he became the father of the Hebrew nation.
God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees and told him He would make of him a nation of people. Les describes this as pulling a little stream out of the great river of humanity, that stream being the nation of Israel. This separation was supernatural and purposeful, to prepare Israel to be the vehicle of redemption for the whole human race.
Abraham's Call and Genealogy
Les recounts that Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees and went up the Euphrates, and that God told him to leave his relatives behind, though he didn't fully obey.
God's New Work: Calling Out One Man
Les explains that after 2,000 years of hopeless humanity, God at 2,000 B.C. called out one man to bring a nation through whom salvation would return to humanity, which is the Abrahamic covenant.
Abraham as Father of the Jewish Race
Les emphasizes that God declared Abraham to be the father of the Jewish race, even though Abraham was not a Jew by birth, and that the first real Jew was Isaac.
Pulling a Little Stream from Humanity
Les illustrates that God pulled the nation of Israel out of the great river of humanity to be a special race, with the purpose of funneling knowledge of God back to the nations.
Supernatural Formation of Israel
Les notes that God supernaturally brought about the nation of Israel through the promised birth of Isaac and continued with Jacob's twelve sons, setting them apart as His chosen nation.
Abraham's Syrian Background
Les explains that Abraham was a Syrian by birth and remained genetically a Syrian, but became the father of the Hebrew nation through God's call and covenant.
The Abrahamic Covenant
Les recounts God's promise to Abraham to make him a great nation, provide a land, and eventually be their king, explaining that this was the Abrahamic covenant.
Origin of the Gentile Stream
Les clarifies that the Gentile line is the mainstream of humanity from Adam, and God pulled the nation of Israel out of it by separating Abraham from his Syrian family.
Genesis 12:1-2: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
God's call and promise to Abraham to make him a great nation, the beginning of the new race.
Genesis 17:4-5: As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
God changes Abram's name to Abraham and affirms his role as father of many nations.
Les Feldick teaches that while God refers to Abraham as the father of the Jewish people, Abraham was not a Jew by birth. He was a Syrian, and the first real Jew by birth was Isaac, the son of promise.
Abraham was not different by blood; he was genetically a Syrian. His difference came from God's sovereign call and the covenant promises, which set him apart to become the father of a new race.
No, Les Feldick says Abraham's blood didn't change; he remained genetically a Syrian. But by God's decree, he was declared the father of the Jewish race.
Watch the Teaching: The Birthright Explained: Why God Chose Jacob Over Esau