Why do you think it's a time Jacob's trouble and not Israel's trouble
(both being the man). Does "Jacob" mean something that you know of?
After years of trial and testing —after finally wrestling all night
with the angel (Genesis 32:24-29)—after confessing his name as
“supplanter”—God bestowed His blessing upon Jacob, took away
his reproachful name, and gave him a new, untainted name,
Israel—which means “prevailer,” or “overcomer with God.”
God appeared to Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel (Genesis 35:11)
When Jacobs name is used , it could mean Israel in [sinning mode]
Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
"For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler;
but the birthright was Joseph’s.”
So at this point the two divisions of the Abrahamic promises—the birthright,
involving material and national promises,and the scepter, including the kingly
and spiritual promises—were separated.
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah …” (Genesis 49:10).
But the birthright was Joseph’s” (1 Chronicles 5:2).
the birthright,including the Promised Land now called Palestine, the assurance
of multitudinous population, material and national prosperity,dominance over
other nations, was now given to Joseph and his sons.
This birthright was not to be inherited by all the tribes of Israel!
It was not given to the Jews! Only a part of the Israelites—
the descendants of Joseph—was to inherit these tremendous national promises!
At the time of Jacob’s death, he and his sons were living in Egypt.
Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will
make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy
seed after thee for an everlasting possession” (Genesis 48:2-4).
Nothing here whatsoever is said about all the families of the Earth being
blessed in his seed—the one seed. Nothing is said about kings.
Nothing is said about spiritual blessings whatever.
These promises are those of the birthright. These promises are of multiple
seed—a multitude of people—and possession of the Promised Land.
“And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were
born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into
Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine”(verse 5).
Manasseh’s name is mentioned first, because Manasseh was the elder.
But old Jacob now mentioned the name of Ephraim first.
Here we see supernatural guidance!
and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers
Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the
midst of the earth” (verses 14-16).
Israel did not confer this blessing on just one, but on both—“Bless the lads,”
he said. This blessing went upon them jointly.
“Let my name be named on them” was part of this blessing. His name was Israel.
Hence, it was the descendants of these lads, not the descendants of Judah, or
the Jews, who were named Israel. the name Israel was to be indelibly stamped
on Ephraim and Manasseh!
Ephraim and Manasseh together received the right to the name Israel.
It was to become the national name of their descendants. And their
descendants were never Jews!
Together the descendants of these two lads, Ephraim and Manasseh, were to
grow into the promised multitude—the nation and company of nations.
