Genesis 26-50 relates the life story of Jacob. He was the grandson of Abraham and Sarah, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the twin brother to Easu, Heir to Covenants, Promises God made to Abraham and Isaac. He was the father of 12 sons and some daughters.
Jacob means “to supplant, circumvent, assail, overreach”, a “trickster, deceiver”. And this was his life, until his encounter with God, Genesis 32:24-27 and God changed his name. Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And then again God had to remind Jacob of his new name. Genesis 35:10 And God said unto him, “Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel”.
Israel means “one that struggled with the divine angel”, “a prince hast thou power with God”. From Exodus thru Malachi there are many references to Jacob and Israel, but a lot of them DO NOT refer to the man (except where it says “the God of Jacob”).
Jacob was the natural man; he became Israel, the spiritual man. References to JACOB now refers the Jew in their natural, unbelief state. Genesis 32:28, 35:10 ISRAEL refers the Jew in their spiritual, though disobedient state. Understanding this truth aides in understanding the scripture.
An example of this is “Jacob’s trouble” found in Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
Jacob in this case is all Jews left on earth after the Rapture. When they see that the “Abomination of desolation” in Daniel 9:27 and spoken of by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:15, is NOT their Messiah, the Great Tribulation (last 3.5 years of Jacob’s trouble) begins, and Israel turns to the true God.
Paul gives an explanation of this Jacob (natural) and Israel (spiritual):
Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
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