Deuteronomy 11:11,12 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
Why is it important for us to study the boundaries of the land that God gave Israel? The first reason is because it is a part of holy inspired Scripture. Secondly, because it is a land that has a special place in the heart of God. It is the land that God promised to give to the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The eyes of God are always upon that parcel of land (Deuteronomy 11:11,12). Not that God is indifferent to the rest of the earth; but He has created and given that particular piece of “real estate” to the Jewish nation as the “theater” for the plan of the redemption of mankind to be accomplished.
Deuteronomy 32:8,9 says, “When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” Ezekiel 5:5 says, “This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.” What a remarkable revelation! It is as if God planned the alignment of every other country on the planet around eretz (“the land of”) Israel, and in particular, the city of Jerusalem.
Today, I would like to share some significant facts with you about this parcel of land that we have been covering over the past few weeks. I pray that God’s Spirit will illuminate our eyes and set out hearts ablaze as we read some of the biblical passages about this land, and see how relevant they are to you and me this morning. Beloved, we are living in both troublesome and exciting times!! Against all “odds”, Israel was declared a nation on May 14th, 1948. The prophet Isaiah said, “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” (Isaiah 66:8) In spite of numerous attempts to wipe out the Jewish people, the nation of Israel was “reborn”, so to speak, because as I said a moment ago, that piece of property would be the major theater for God’s redemptive and prophetic plan.
Why is it important to study and learn about the land of Israel? Because in doing so, we learn that our God is a promise-keeping God. Every square inch that Israel obtained in the Promised Land that we have been covering in the book of Joshua was because God is faithful to keep His promises. And what is the connection between what God promised Israel and you and me this morning? For those who repent of their sin and trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross for their sin debt and believe that He rose again from the dead, God declares: “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1 John 2:25) “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15) All praise, and glory and honor be unto our God Who has promised His children that by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, they which are called will receive the promises of eternal life and an eternal inheritance. Selah
