By David R. Parsons, ICEJ Senior Vice President & Spokesman

In the unfolding of biblical history, there are few threads as vibrant and enduring as God’s promise of the Land of Canaan to the Jewish people. This land promise is an integral part of the divine covenant first made with Abraham, which has echoed through millennia, shaping not only the destiny of Israel but also the spiritual journey of Christian believers worldwide.

At its core, the Land Promise is not merely about real estate; it’s a testament to God’s faithfulness and His grand plan for redemption. When God called Abraham, saying, “Get up and go to a land I will show you,” He set in motion a divine plan that would ultimately ‘bless’ all families of the earth. This calling was not just for Abraham’s benefit, but for the salvation of the world.

The language of the land conveyance in this covenant is fascinating. In Genesis, we see God using past, present, and future tense when speaking of the land allotment. For instance, “I gave,” “I am giving,” and “I will give” are all essentially contained in one verse alone (Genesis 35:12) This peculiar phrasing suggests more than a simple property transaction. It implies a continual conveyance, a trust relationship between God and His people. The Land, while promised to Israel, ultimately remains God’s possession.

This concept is further reinforced in Leviticus 25:23, where God declares, “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.” It’s a powerful reminder that while Israel is entrusted with the Land, they are stewards rather than outright owners.

This promise of land is intricately woven into all the salvation covenants in the Bible. In Psalms 105, we are reminded that God “remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded for a thousand generations.” This covenant, made with Abraham and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob, included the promise of the Land of Canaan as their inheritance; indeed an “everlasting possession” according to Genesis 17:8. It is a promise that spans generations, emphasizing its everlasting nature.

Interestingly, this Land Promise is not confined to the Older Testament. In the New Testament, we see Stephen, moments before his martyrdom, recounting how God promised the Land to Abraham and his descendants even before he stepped into the land or had a child. This continuity across testaments underscores the enduring significance of the Land Promise in God’s redemptive plan.

However, with promise comes responsibility. The covenant made through Moses introduced conditions for Israel’s right to enjoy domicile in the Land. Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 outline the blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. When Israel walked uprightly, their enemies would flee seven ways. But in times of rebellion, they risked exile. Yet even in exile, the promise remained, since God entrusted the Land to Abraham’s descendants by sworn oath. God’s faithfulness ensures that He would always regather His people to the Land, a process we have witnessed once again in modern times.

This cycle of possession, exile and return serves as a powerful object lesson for all nations. It demonstrates God’s faithfulness and mercy through the Abrahamic covenant, and His holiness and righteousness in the Mosaic covenant. Israel’s sojourning within and outside the Land becomes a light to the nations, illustrating what it means to walk faithfully with God and know His blessings or face His correction for disobedience.

The Land Promise is not just about a physical piece of real estate; it is ultimately about the reliability of God to keep His word. As Christians, we need to recognise the importance of God’s ongoing work in fulfilling His promises to Israel, We should see Israel’s modern-day return to their ancestral homeland as an affirmation of His faithfulness to all His covenant promises, including those we enjoy under the New Covenant in Christ.

Today, as we witness conflicts over borders and sovereignty in the Middle East, we are reminded of Ezekiel’s prophecy about God judging Israel at its borders. These struggles are not just geopolitical; they have a spiritual dimension, reflecting the ongoing process of God showing favour to His people by bringing them back to the Land and ultimately to Himself through Messiah, even while still requiring Israel to be in right standing with Him.

The end goal of this divine drama is beautifully captured in Deuteronomy 32. It speaks of a time when Gentiles will rejoice with God’s people because He will “provide atonement for His land and His people.” This points to a future where the Land Promise finds its full realisation not just in terms of physical possession, but in spiritual restoration as well.

This restoration is intimately connected to the Messiah. Jesus Himself spoke of a day when Jerusalem would welcome Him, saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:39) This suggests a national salvation for Israel, a moment of recognition and repentance that will usher in true peace and rest in the Land.

As we reflect on this grand narrative, we are called to patience and respect for God’s timing and purpose. The struggles we see today are part of a redemptive process that will ultimately benefit the whole world. Our role is not to force outcomes but to support Israel and pray for its peace and prophetic destiny, recognising that God is working towards a glorious conclusion.

Israel’s return to their Land is therefore not some political accident or historical anomaly, but a vivid illustration of God’s faithfulness, His corrective love, and His unchanging plan for world redemption. It reminds us that God keeps His word, even across millennia. It challenges us to trust in His timing and purpose, even when circumstances seem dire.

For believers today, this ancient Land Promise holds profound implications. It calls us to:

1. Trust in God’s faithfulness: If God is faithful to His promises to Israel, we can trust He will be faithful to His promises to us in Christ.

2. Recognise God’s ongoing work: The modern return of Jews to Israel is not just a political development; it is part of a spiritual process of God drawing His people back to Himself.

3. Pray for peace: Understanding God’s heart for Israel and the nations should move us to earnestly pray for peace and for the fulfilment of God’s purposes.

4. Look forward in hope: The Land Promise points to a future where all creation will find its rest in God. This gives us hope and perspective in troubled times.

As we ponder these ancient promises and their modern implications, may we be filled with awe at God’s faithfulness, inspired by His patience, and moved to align our hearts with His purposes for Israel and all nations. In doing so, we participate in a story far grander than ourselves – a story of covenant, redemption, and ultimate restoration.

Main photo: David escorting the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. (Illustration by Charles Delagrave)