Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 27, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 4.

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Our Bible Reading

Promises to Israel.

1. By what names are God’s people called in the Old Testament?

“Hebrews,” “Jews,” “Israel,” or “Israelites.”

2. What is the origin of the term “Hebrew”?

“Abram the Hebrew,” probably from his ancestor Eber. Gen. 14:13; 10:21; 11:14. See Phil. 3:5; 2 Cor. 11:22.

3. How does God show His regard for them?

“Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let MY PEOPLE go that they may serve Me.” Ex. 7:16.

4. What was the origin of the term “Jews”?

Probably from Judah, Jacob’s fourth son, to whose Seed is “the gathering of the people.” Gen. 49:10. (See Esther 2:5, for its first use.)

5. What definition is given of a true Jew?

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; . . . but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; . . . whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Rom. 2:28, 29.

6. By what words does Jesus show how God honors that people?

“Salvation is of the Jews.” John 4:22.

NOTE.—The tribe of Judah was given the kingship; from that tribe came David, and David’s greater Son, Jesus our Lord. The name takes on a great spiritual meaning, those begotten of Jesus Christ.

7. Whence came the name of Israel?

“God created man upright [Hebrew, “Israel”]. Eccl. 7:29.

8. How does fallen man attain to it?

“And He said, Thy name shall no more be called Jacob [supplanter, the unregenerate name], but Israel; for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Gen. 32:28.

“By his strength he had power with God; yea, he had power over the Angel, and prevailed; he wept and made supplication unto Him; he found Him in Bethel; and there He spake with us.” Hosea 12:3, 4.

NOTE.—The name “Israel” is wholly of spiritual significance, meaning the prevailer with God, over sin and self, the very purpose God had in creating man. It was the Angel of God’s presence, He who afterward became Jesus, who met Jacob that night at the ford of the Jabbok. There Jacob gained the character-victory; there he became one of the Israel of God. Even so by faith does every overcomer attain. The term Israel was afterward and often applied to Jacob’s descendants, but its true spiritual significance is not lost sight of; “for they are not all Israel, that are of Israel, neither, because they are of Abraham’s seed, are they all children; but in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, it is NOT the CHILDREN of the FLESH that are children of God; but the CHILDREN of the PROMISE are reckoned for a seed.” Rom. 9:6-8.

9. In that great city of God which all the redeemed shall enter, how many gates are there?

“Having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels.” Rev. 21:12.

10. From whom are these gates named?

“And names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.” Rev. 21:12.

NOTE.—All therefore who are saved are in God’s perfect plan, in one of His twelve tribes, as they are recorded in the book of life, twelve tribes, the plan of which goes back of the creation of man. They are a part of God’s design of a perfect world. Man having fallen can come back only by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. When the earthly tribes of Israel were formed, it was God’s plan to present on earth as far as possible His heavenly order, even as the sanctuary was a type of the heavenly temple.

11. Who only will enter that holy city?

“Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the Tree of Life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14, A.R.V.

12. How long shall the Israel of God possess their inheritance?

“But Israel shall be saved in Jehovah with an everlasting salvation; ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah, and there is none else.” Isa. 45:17, 18.