Israel was a term used before Israel ever became a nation. It was used to designate the worshippers of Jehovah. Gerhard Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament shows this ancient usage of Israel. It meant literally to have power with God, meaning relationship, or to overcome in faith. It means the people of God, to be in the family of God, to be the elect of God, to be called of grace through faith.
Israel is not a racial term. It is a theological term. It means to be the people of God by the election of grace. The first time we see this term in the Bible is with Jacob in the book of Genesis. He was called Jacob which means deceiver or swindler and that is what he did until the time that he met with God on his way back from staying with his uncle Laban.
God called Jacob according to His plan before he was born and met him face to face. This encounter changed Jacob’s character and from that time he was a changed man. Before that time he had a religious faith, but was still a deceiver. When he met with God his name was changed to Israel, which meant God’s heir, possessor of the promises, elect of God and one who is in God’s family.
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