Yes, Israel is significant because God sovereignly set them apart as His covenant people for a unique role in His program for the human race.
God called Abram out of idolatry and promised to make him a great nation, bless him, and through him bless all families of the earth. Israel is that covenant nation, chosen not for its size but to prepare the way for the Redeemer and bring the Gentiles to a knowledge of Israel's God.
Genesis 12:1-3 — This is the foundational covenant where God calls Abram and promises to make him a great nation, a blessing to all the earth.
In Genesis 12, God called Abram out of his country and promised to make him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing. God also declared that He would bless those who bless Abram and curse those who curse him, and that in Abram all families of the earth would be blessed. This covenant sets Israel apart as a nation chosen by God for His purposes. Throughout the Old Testament, God reaffirms Israel's unique position as His set-apart covenant people.
Les Feldick emphasizes that by the time of Genesis 12, everyone on earth was an idolater, and in that setting God sovereignly chose Abram because his heart was open to God. God separated the nation of Israel, a nation of less than 5 million people, as His covenant people, making them the center of all His dealing with the human race. Their survival through millennia against all odds is directly tied to their status as God's covenant people. Les stresses that God did not forget the Gentile—He set Israel aside and dealt with them for the express purpose of bringing all nations to a knowledge of Israel's God. The ultimate fulfillment of 'in thee shall all families be blessed' comes through Israel's Messiah being crucified for the whole world.
By the time of Genesis 12, everyone was an idolater with no knowledge of the true God. God saw that Abram's heart was fertile and open, so He revealed Himself to Abram and told him to leave his country to a land God would show him.
Israel is a unique set-aside nation. No other nation can infringe on that exclusive position. Les Feldick describes them as the chosen people, the favored nation, and the covenant people—sovereignly designated by God for a unique role in His overall program for the human race.
No. God setting aside Israel does not mean He has forgotten the non-Israelite. He set Israel aside and dealt with them to prepare the favored nation to bring all other nations to a knowledge of Israel's God. The Abrahamic covenant's final phrase, 'in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed,' shows the all-encompassing purpose.
The covenantal promise that all families of the earth would be blessed in Abraham would come about through Israel's Messiah. He would be crucified and become the object of faith, not just for Israel, but for the whole world.
Abram Called Out of Idolatry
Everyone was an idolater by Genesis 12, but God saw Abram's open heart and called him to a land He would show him.
Israel Center of God's Dealing
Israel's small size doesn't diminish its significance; it is the center of all God's dealing with the human race and the flow of spiritual blessing.
Covenant People Survive
Israel has survived millennia against all odds simply because they are God's covenant people.
Messiah Brings the Blessing
The Abrahamic covenant's promise to bless all nations is fulfilled through the crucifixion of Israel's Messiah, who becomes the object of faith for the whole world.
Unique Set-Aside Nation
Israel has a unique set-aside position that no other nation can ever infringe upon.
Gentiles Not Forgotten
God's unique covenant role for Israel does not mean He has forgotten the non-Israelite.
Prepared to Bring Knowledge of God
God set Israel aside above all nations for the express purpose of bringing all other nations to a knowledge of Israel's God.
Why God Chose Abraham: Israel's Purpose Finally Explained
And so in the numbers of antiquity, Israel was the largest nation in that area of the world at 5 or 6 million people. And this was God's promise, that I will make of thee a great nation, I will bless thee and make thy name great, thou shalt be a blessing. I will bless them that bless thee, I will curse them that curse thee, and thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 12:1: 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:
God's original call to Abram begins the separation of Israel from the idolatrous nations.
Genesis 12:2: 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:
This verse establishes the promise that Abram's descendants would become a great and blessed nation.
Genesis 12:3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This verse shows Israel's role as the channel of blessing to all the earth, and the seriousness of how others treat them.
According to Les Feldick, Israel remains God's covenant people and the center of all His dealing with the human race. Their unique set-aside position cannot be infringed upon.
God sovereignly chose Israel, not because of their size, but because of His covenant with Abram. Even as a small nation of less than 5 million, Israel commands the attention of the world because God set them apart at the center of His program.
Les teaches that the blessing comes through Israel's Messiah, who was crucified and became the object of faith for the whole world, fulfilling the promise that in Abraham all families of the earth would be blessed.
No. God set aside Israel to prepare them to bring all other nations to a knowledge of Israel's God. The Gentiles are not forgotten; they are included in the all-encompassing promise of the Abrahamic covenant.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15