Where did the nation of Israel come from?  The word Israel means “God prevails or one who prevails with God”.  We know that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel and that is where we get the name from.  God has had His hand upon these people, and they have been referred to as the people of God.  They have not always been obedient to God much like most of us.  God made a promise to Abraham and that is where we will start our story today.