Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yiśrāʾēl means “Triumphant with God, who prevails with God”.
Israel was the new Hebrew name that the Angel of the Lord declared over Jacob after the two of them wrestled. Jacob prevailed and demanded a blessing from Him.
Covenant
God made a covenant with Abraham during a famine and confirmed the covenant with his son Isaac also during a famine. The Covenant was then determined a third time through Jacob. The fact that God chose this family of all the people on Earth to cut covenant with and to be the people (nation) associated with His Name is purposeful and begs attention.
God is clear that the covenantal promises are for all their generations provided that the family is obedient to His ways and commandments. This makes sense of course, because if one declares an entity to be “their God” then they would follow the instructions of their god implicitly. To declare that the God of Creation (also known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) is GOD then obedience to His laws is proof of dedication and loyalty. Refusing to walk or live by His “standards” renounces “His Godship”.
The Seed
The beauty about this covenant with the Patriarchs is that God prophesied that one day Israel and all the nations would be blessed by the prophesied Seed (Messiah) that would come from Abraham. (see Gen. 22:18) The promised Messiah of Covenant would open the covenant to all who loved and believed in Him as He also is a descendant and Seed of Abraham. Being born of the Messiah by His Spirit makes one eligible to enter into the ancient covenant lawfully as an heir to all of its benefits. (And by this way the whole world maybe blessed).
Yeshua said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. John 14:15
He also said “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Yeshua is the Word of God (Torah) made flesh. So, if one has called on the Name of Yeshua for salvation they are commanded to offer Him their heart, soul and mind. He implores us to obey His Torah commandments that He expounded on at the Mount of Beatitudes and show forth that love to others as our proof of our dedication and love to our God.
