Dividing the Promised Land

God Himself promised a piece of real estate to His chosen people. He gave this promise without condition to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as their descendants. He confirmed this unconditional covenant with an oath 55 times in our bible. Its boundaries are declared to be “from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates.” (Genesis 15:18). And “And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea (Mediterranean), Philistia, and from the desert to the river (Euphrates).” This land inheritance is described in greater detail in the Book of Numbers 34:1-15. Under Kings David and Solomon Israel possessed most of this territory along with the east bank of the Jordan that is now a part of the modern nation of Jordan.

The Jews were dispossessed of this land in 605 BC (the 1st exile) due to the Babylonian invasion and also in 70 AD (the 2nd exile) by the Romans. Miraculously, nearly 2000 years later in 1948, Israel was again established as a sovereign nation, controlling a small strip of land in their old homeland which was immediately contested by the surrounding Arab countries. The subsequent war resulted in Israel gaining territory such as Galilee and coastal Mediterranean lands. During the six-day war of 1967 Israel gained more of the promised land by conquering the Sinai Peninsula, the old city of Jerusalem, the Golan heights, the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), as well as Gaza. This was the maximum size of lands controlled by modern day Israel. Then the downsizing (dividing) began.

In 1979 Israel ceded the Sinai back to Egypt in a peace agreement. In 2005, at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel gave the Gaza Strip to the PLO in a failed attempt at regional peace. A current major effort by world leaders is underway demanding Israel give up their biblical homeland of Judea and Samaria along with the Eastern half of Jerusalem to Palestinian control. The whole world seems to be caught up in this drama over control of these tiny pieces of land. And rightly so, as it is of huge biblical significance!

Since it was God Himself Who promised this land to Israel in its entirety, those who are striving to further divide Israel are fighting against God-never a good idea! They think they are promoting peace but are instead inviting judgment from God. Joel’s prophecy about these days is quite succinct. “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.” (Joel 3:2). Notice God calls the promised land My land. God told the Israelites about the promised land “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.” (Leviticus25:23). It’s His land where He has chosen to put His Name. It’s from there that the coming Kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ will rule the world. That’s why Satan wants to divide the land. And it seems he might be succeeding.

As I write this the UN general assembly just voted 157 to 36 in favor of creating and recognizing a Palestinian state consisting of Gaza, Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem. Included in voting for dividing Israel thusly were many western democracies such as England, France, Portugal, Spain, Canada, Norway, and Australia. What are they thinking?? Not only are they rewarding a terrorist entity (Hamas) that recently massacred, tortured, and imprisoned 1300 Israeli citizens but have taken a step towards creating an even larger terrorist state. Most importantly, they have slapped God across His face claiming to impose something better on the state of Israel than His covenantal relationship with His chosen people.

Saints, we’re living in the end times and can expect these sorts of things to happen with increasing frequency. Israel is going to find herself more and more alone and isolated as persecution against her very existence rises. She needs to realize that the God of the bible is her only reliable ally and with Him by her side His covenants will stand, and inheritance of the entire promised land will eventually become eternally hers. Yes, the promised land will ultimately be divided when our Lord returns, but it will be divided among the 12 tribes of Israel and the coming Prince. (See chapter 48 in Ezekiel).

Maranatha, Jim