God made promises to the patriarchs that serve as search criteria pointing to Israel. These promises, along with the blessings bestowed in faith by the patriarchs, describe Israel's future and provide essential information to identify Israel throughout history. Isaac's blessing to Jacob included wealth and power, indicating that Israel would be served by peoples and nations, and Israel's posterity would hold a preeminent place among the nations. This blessing extends to future generations, pointing to an Israel of a later time. Jacob, as a prophet, had insight into Israel's future, with prophecies concerning his sons in the last days, adding to the criteria for identifying Israel. Israel blessed his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, by faith, understanding the substance of God's promises to him, his father Isaac, and his grandfather Abraham. He granted the birthright blessing to Joseph's sons, declaring them as his own and ensuring they bear the name of Israel, establishing their identity within the family of Abraham and the structure of God's promises. Jacob blessed Ephraim, the younger son, with a greater blessing, foretelling that he would become a multitude of nations, while Manasseh, the firstborn, received a lesser blessing of greatness. God renamed Jacob as Israel, affirming this change in Bethel and reiterating the promises made to Abraham. True Israelites are defined by a persuasion of faith that God prevails and provides according to His purposes, reflecting the faith of the patriarchs in Canaan.

Before and during the holy days, particularly the spring festivals, the story of the children of Israel is frequently explored, as the holy days are rooted in the events of Israel's history. Jesus indicates that Israel had its chance but failed miserably, leading Him to create a nation worthy of entering His Kingdom, a people who would produce fruits proving they follow His laws and keep His covenant. As the God of the Old Testament, He had declared to ancient Israel that He was putting them away, no longer to be their Husband. God chose Abraham, and thus Israel and his descendants, to bless mankind through the Person of Jesus Christ. Physically, Jesus had to descend from a line of humanity, and Abraham, descended from those faithful to God in earlier times, possessed special qualities that pleased Him. Therefore, God selected Abraham and his family, later known as Israel, to bring the blessing of salvation to all mankind. God created in Abraham a people with a special link to Him, knowing Abraham was the best candidate to build a model nation with desired qualities. Since God had a close relationship with Abraham, Israel's descendants hold a special place in His heart. After the Israelites left Egypt, God proposed His covenant with Israel, presenting its purpose. God's plan is focused on Israel through the fulfillment of promises, and the Israelites are His primary agents for bringing His plan to pass, particularly through the house of David and its greatest scion, Jesus of Nazareth. Though God sometimes uses Gentiles, He predominantly employs Israelites to drive affairs in His plan. The central focus of the Old Testament is to chronicle events that brought the world to the point where God in the flesh, the Christ, could be born, with Israelites being instrumental in those events. As sovereign over all, God maneuvers Israel into positions to prod history in the way He desires. In ancient times, nearly every world empire had to deal with Israel or Judah, and those interactions played significant roles in the development of God's plan. For instance, when Jacob moved to Goshen, Israelite labor helped build Egypt into a superpower, and their departure after the plagues left Egypt vulnerable, allowing Israel time to establish itself in the Promised Land. Later, Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of many Jews set up necessary conditions for Jesus to be born in Judea according to prophecy. Despite having consigned Israel to disobedience, God has continued to use Israel and Judah to move events in His plan. In fulfillment of promises of prosperity and power to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He has allowed the descendants of Joseph to rise into great nations, using their might and influence to push other peoples to accomplish steps in His plan. The tiny State of Israel, peopled largely by descendants of Judah, wields disproportionate influence in world affairs, with ongoing conflicts drawing attention, as the Bible predicts Jerusalem will remain a significant challenge for all peoples. God declares that He will make the governors of Judah like a fiery torch, devouring surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, as He works out matters to prepare for His Son's return in power and great glory to establish His Kingdom on earth.

The division of Solomon's kingdom resulted in the formation of two nations, with the ten northern tribes establishing the Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. Jeroboam, seeking to strengthen his control, introduced religious changes that became a sin for Israel, creating a designer religion with its own traditions, shrines, and a loyal priesthood. This sin led to the destruction of Jeroboam's house, and despite God's conditional promise to build him an enduring house, his disobedience prevented its fulfillment. His son Nadab was assassinated after a brief reign, and Baasha from the tribe of Issachar took the throne, slaughtering Jeroboam's progeny. The apostasy initiated by Jeroboam persisted among the children of Israel, who continued in his sins without turning back. Subsequent kings of the northern kingdom followed his path, never correcting his errors, which provoked the Lord's anger, leading to Israel's removal from His sight. The Kingdom of Judah, witnessing Israel's idolatry and the catastrophe of her fall and mass deportation, still refused to repent, causing God to judge that backsliding Israel appeared more righteous than treacherous Judah. Through prophets like Hosea, God warned Judah against following Israel's idolatrous course, yet Judah, with few exceptions among her kings, stumbled alongside Israel into iniquity. The ongoing conflicts between the Kingdom of Judah in the south and the Kingdom of Israel in the north highlighted their deep divisions.