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1) contend, have power, contend with, persist, exert oneself, persevere 1a) (Qal) to perse-
vere, contend with

The word "Israel" is found nearly 2,500 times in the Bible; and this fact must not be ig-
nored since it is very obvious that these people are very important to YEHOVAH!

As was mentioned before, anyone with an understanding of the Old Testament will know
that YEHOVAH's people were a people called Israel. Many scriptures prove this fact. Let's re-
view some of these --

DEUTERONOMY 7:6: "For you are a HOLY PEOPLE to YEHOVAH your God; YEHOVAH
your God has CHOSEN you to be a people for Himself, a SPECIAL TREASURE above all the
peoples on the face of the earth."

DEUTERONOMY 10:15: "YEHOVAH delighted ONLY in your fathers, to love them; and He
CHOSE their descendants after them, you ABOVE ALL PEOPLES, as it is this day."

DEUTERONOMY 14:2: "For you are A HOLY PEOPLE to YEHOVAH your God, and YEHO-
VAH has CHOSEN you to be a people for Himself, a SPECIAL TREASURE above all the peo-
ples who are on the face of the earth."

DEUTERONOMY 26:19: "...and that He [YEHOVAH] will set you HIGH ABOVE ALL NA-
TIONS which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a HOLY PEO-
PLE TO YEHOVAH your God, just as He has spoken."

We should believe what these scriptures say. YEHOVAH was indeed selective in choos-
ing Israel above all other people and nations on the face of the earth. These verses clearly show
that Israel was indeed SPECIAL to YEHOVAH. The word "special" in Deuteronomy 14:2 is No.
05459 in Strong's Concordance and shows that YEHOVAH looks on Israel as a SPECIAL
JEWEL AND TREASURE, and as a possession or valued property.

In Deuteronomy 26:19 it says that Israel was to be "high above all nations" and were to be
"a holy people to YEHOVAH" to show the praise, the NAME and honor of YEHOVAH. This
prophecy is vital to our understanding when we address the question of who the modern-day Isra-
elites are. It was these people that were destined throughout the centuries to uphold and proclaim
the praise, honor and the NAME of the God of Israel.

In Psalm 135:4 we find defined who YEHOVAH's "special treasure" really is: "For YE-
HOVAH has chosen Jacob for Himself, [and] ISRAEL for His special treasure." Very plainly it is
a people called ISRAEL, and YEHOVAH chose this people for Himself. The sons of Jacob (Is-
rael) have always been -- and always will be -- YEHOVAH's "special treasure," for YEHOVAH
does not change -- "For I am YEHOVAH, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons
of Jacob."

In Amos 3:2 we read: "You ONLY have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I
will punish you for all your iniquities." No other nation or people other than a people called

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