The Patriarchs are the founding fathers of the nation of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to make him a great nation and to bless all nations through his descendants (Genesis 12:1–3, KJV). That covenant was passed to Isaac, Abraham's promised son, and then to Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel. Jacob had twelve sons, who became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 35:10–12; 49). The lives of the Patriarchs form the foundation of the Old Testament, demonstrating God's faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His plan of redemption that ultimately led to the coming of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.