Who is Israel?: a Biblical Study

FOUR OF MANY THEMESI. DUAL NAME CHANGEJacob's name changed to Israel; Jabbok changed to Peniel. Jacob was not made perfect in love, neither the love of God nor the love of his brother. Therefore, he was not Israel. On the contrary he turned his back to Peniel, the face of God. He fell down to fear, throwing himself at the feet of Esau, the Hated of God. II. AN EXALTED NAME CAST IN A FILTHY SWAMPJacob brought shame to the exalted name of Israel as he bowed down to the ground seven times before Esau, as a slave, reverting back to the ford of the Jabbok, a bubbling dirty swamp. The origin of the word Jabbock in Arabic is Baqbaq. As when one listens to a bubbling dirty swamp in the silence of the night, one hears the sounds: 'Baqbaq -- Baqbaq', as the bubbles of noxious gases break up. ISRAEL - MY FIRST BORN SON'Israel is My son, My firstborn'.'When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son'. This 'Archetype' was fulfilled in calling the first-born son, Christ, out of Egypt after the death of Herod. He rose victorious on the third day, the first-born of the dead, the firstfruits of them that slept. For this reason he was called the Head of the 'Church of the Firstborn'. IV. TO RESTORE DAVID'S FALLEN TENTAmos prophesy in chapter 9:11 called for the building again of the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down. 'That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called', Acts 15:17 KJV. This was fulfilled by the call of the Gentiles to enter into the Kingdom of God: Gentiles with Jews side by side, no differentiation between them, all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.