THE LAND COVENANT
October 7, 2023 – This now infamous date has ignited a wildfire of antisemitism and hatred toward the nation of Israel. However, the tragic irony is that the actual target and victim, of one of the most horrific and evil attacks in the history of humanity, was Israel!
The antisemitic chant “from the river to the sea”, which is calling for the eradication of the Jewish people from the land of Israel, is now mainstream. Furthermore, the calls for Israel to cease the war on Hamas, and mandating Israel to submit to a two-state solution, are ludicrously being tabled at institutions from local councils to the White House.
The bottom line is, the world is turning on Israel and delegitimising its identity and right to its land. This is nothing new. The Bible and history reveal the ongoing agenda to rid the world of Israel.
But who’s land is it, really? The Bible clearly tells us it belongs to Israel alone. Why? Because the God of heaven and earth has made a unique covenant with Israel.
WHO’S LAND IS IT, REALLY?
What is often simply called the “Land Covenant” of Israel is presented in Deuteronomy 30:1-6;
And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you, and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the LORD your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
THE BIG PICTURE
In this passage, God presents a big picture outline of Israel’s future, which includes the following:
1. Dispersion into the nations.
2. Regathering to their land.
3. Repopulation of their nation.
4. Restoration their God.
This covenant is an expansion of the foundational covenant that God gave to Abraham in Genesis 12:1. Here, God designated an area of land to Abraham which would become the homeland of the “great nation” promised in 12:2. Then in Genesis 12:7, God promises Abraham, upon arrival in Canaan, “To your offspring I will give this land.” Later, in Genesis 15:18, God expands on the promise: “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.”
Many other Scriptures reiterate this same promise of the future restoration of Israel to its land.
THE REALM OF THE PROMISE
It’s important to understand what all these Scriptures specifically say about the Land Covenant from God:
1. Unconditional – being an extension of the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant means that the Land Covenant is also not dependant on Israel’s obedience nor abrogated by its disobedience. The promise is dependent solely on God’s faithfulness. Israel will inherit the land promise, in full, in the future. God confirms it with His declarations in Deuteronomy 30 of “will… when… then.”
2. Everlasting - In Genesis 17:8, God promises Abraham that the land gift is everlasting. Later, the prophets also declared the eternal nature of the promise – Ezekiel 37:26-27, Jeremiah 31:35-37, Amos 9:15.
3. Ownership – Israel is guaranteed repeatedly by God that, one day, it will take full possession of the land because the land belongs to Israel (Deuteronomy 30:5).
4. Unfulfilled – Israel hasn’t always occupied its land or possessed the full promise of land, even in the times of Joshua (Joshua 21:43-45) and King Solomon (1 Kings 4). According to Genesis 15:18 and Joshua 1:4, the land God gave to Israel includes modern-day Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, some of Egypt and Syria, all of Jordan, plus some of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Therefore, Israel currently possesses only a fraction of the land God has promised.
But, according to extensive biblical prophecy, Israel will one day inherit the fullness of this promised land at the return of Jesus Messiah.
THE REGATHERING TO THE LAND
“Remarkably, God’s promise of the Jewish return to Israel continues to accelerate today.”
Since the rebirth of the modern state of Israel in 1948, amazingly, the prophecy of Deuteronomy 30:1-3 has been progressively fulfilled in regathering the Jewish people back from the nations into the land of Israel. In May 1948, the Jewish population of Israel constituted just 6 per cent of all Jews worldwide. Today 46 per cent of the 15 million Jews in the world live in Israel. (Ref; Institute for Jewish Policy Research)
Remarkably, God’s promise of the Jewish return to Israel continues to accelerate today.
Since the shocking October 7 attack on Israel, the Diaspora Ministry and Jewish Agency reveal that the number of antisemitic incidents worldwide have increased 225% to record highs. France has seen the greatest surge in antisemitic events, with 1000%, followed by Canada with 800%, Australia with 738%, the US with 337%, and Germany with 320%. (Ref; Jerusalem Post - Jan 31, 2024).
Despite these disturbing numbers, God has used the global persecution against the Jewish people to advance the return of Jews from all the nations back to the promised land.
Understandably, many Jews are now feeling increasingly insecure in nations that were previously supportive of their presence. This, along with a renewed sense of support for Israel and a revival of Jewish identity, is leading many Jews to actively seek a new home in Israel where they will find acceptance.
The Aliyah and Integration Ministry reports, that since the beginning of the war, there has been a 300% increase in the opening of Israel immigration case files in France, over 100% in the US, 150% in Canada, and 40% in the United Kingdom. (Ref; Jerusalem Post - Feb 21, 2024)
Right now, the prophecy of Zechariah 8:7-8 is being fulfilled - Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”
Over the decades since Israel’s rebirth, Jews, mainly from the east (Arabic, Middle Eastern and Asian countries) have returned to Israel due to persecution. But Zechariah’s prophecy also specifically identifies a Jewish return from the west. The current western return of Jews is a remarkable progress of this biblical prophecy.
THE RELEVANCE TO US
What God has promised regarding Israel’s land, regathering and restoration has great relevance for each of us today.
1. God works all things together for your good.
Just as God is faithfully using the most horrific attack on Israel and persecution of Jews for His glory and Israel’s future, God also promises to work all things together for good in your life, as you trust and follow Him (Romans 8:28). Whatever trials and troubles you are experiencing today, be assured that God will use your difficulties to fulfil His good plan for your life.
In God’s hands, things are never falling apart but are always falling into place.
2. You can fully believe in God’s Word.
Nothing proves the divine origin of the Bible like fulfilled prophecy. Whatever God promises in His Word for your life, he will do! And if God is for you, who can be against you (Romans 8:31). Today you can trust him completely with His invitation to cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
THE ULTIMATE RESTORATION
Together, we don’t just look forward to God fully restoring Israel to its promised land. No, we long for Israel to be fully restored to its God.
Jeremiah 32:37-38 prophesies - “Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them . . . I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. They shall be My people, and I will be their God.”
One day Jesus, Israel’s Messiah and our Saviour, will return in power and glory. On that amazing day Israel will repent and recognise Jesus as the Messiah whom they rejected. And thus, all Israel will be saved as a nation under God (Romans 11:26-27).
