I often wonder why scripture at times uses the name of Jacob....and at other times uses the name of Israel? At times they are used in the same passage....as in Psalm 53:6...."Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad." I've read the many commentaries on this....and probably at least one of them is correct....but still the theories do not completely answer my question.
I admit it....I look for prophecy in scripture everywhere. And prophecy is everywhere....at least in every book....and in some books every chapter. I color-code highlight my own Bible....and orange is what I choose for anything that has anything to do with prophecy.....and that orange is all through my Bible....and I am not finished yet....nor will I ever be finished with reading God's Word....as if I were reading verses and passages for the very first time...for this is God's time-release....or lifting of veils....the methods that He has chosen in revealing many prophecies.The result of all this with me as it concerns Jacob and Israel....is that if there is even a hint of prophecy when the name Jacob is used.....my mind gravitates towards America....or at least Western Civilization....sometimes the church....and when I read....Israel.....I see the state of Israel today....or at least the Jewish people today. I can prove nothing....but the verse or passage makes sense to me when I do this.
The warnings given in these passages....many times anyway....seems to differ with the two names....with Jacob alluding to a people of faith....who may or may not have walked away from that faith....and Israel alluding to the nation today that still does not recognize its Messiah. One of the theories is the exact opposite...with Israel being the more faithful characterization.....but I surely do not see that.
I mention this primarily to stir your interest when reading the prophets. Did not Jesus....with the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus....being unknown to them at the time....as Luke records in 24:27...."Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets. He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures."? NASB
Note: I would like to take this opportunity to recommend yet another message....this time from John Piper....and this time a conference talk. Just go to desiringgod.org....and there about four messages down is....The Great Commission Is Neve Convenient. As a matter of fact it is available on YouTube so here it is
