The house of Israel became the covenant people of the Lord because of the faith of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 'For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith' (Rom 4:13). Abraham was favored of the Lord for his righteousness and faith. He could be considered 'the choicest vine' which the Lord planted in his vineyard, for Abraham was both choice and chosen (Abr. 3:23).