God Keeps All His Promises - Part Three

Our message this week will attempt to answer the question about when and how did God identify the large group of oppressed people in Egypt as Israel? In Genesis 12:3 God said to Abraham and his descendants, "I will make you into a great nation." This critically important statement did not go on to give any details how this would take place.

The first verse of the Book Of Exodus says, "Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt." Please notice this group of people who moved to Egypt were referred to as Israel. Genesis 46:3 also shows God saying to Jacob and his descendants, "I am God, The God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there." As a result, might we conclude that this group of people in Egypt were Israel and multiplied greatly so that they were the great nation of Genesis 12:3?

However, let us explore this question even further. There are also those Bible Scholars who believe Israel became a great nation and God's Covenant People at Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:3-6 says, "And Moses went up to God; and The Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, 'Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel; you have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My Covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'" 

Jehovah God said to the children of Israel who had come out of the land of Egypt, "You shall be a special treasure to Me above all people and a Holy Nation." The people of Israel responded by saying in verse 8 "All that The Lord has spoken, we will do." It is believed the Nation of Israel became a Great Nation at this moment. Whether Israel became the Great Nation spoken of in Genesis 12:3 in Egypt or at Mount Sinai is not that important to determine. What is important: 

God Kept His Promise! Today Israel Is A Great Nation And Will Be Even Greater When Jesus Returns To Earth To Establish The New Jerusalem.

Blessings,

Frank