Yahveh Gave This Land -- To His People (Israel) -- In Perpetuity

Yahveh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, made a Covenant with Abraham. He gave a large area of land, once known as Canaan, to Abraham and his seed (through Isaac and Jacob) forever. Yahveh confirmed His Covenant through Isaac and Jacob. He defined the boundaries of the Land: "...from the brook of Egypt to the mountains of Lebanon, and from the Euphrates to the Great Sea". Yahveh did NOT give any of the Covenant Land to Ishmael or his descendants.

Please. . . check out these scriptures. . . the promises of Yahveh, granting the Land to His Chosen People, the Jewish people, forever.

Genesis 12:1, 2, 7 (gives the land to Abraham);

Genesis 13:14-17 (all the Land, as far as he could see);

Genesis 15:7-12 (makes an everlasting Covenant with Abraham),

Genesis 17-18 (creates a Covenant over the Land);

Genesis 17:1-8, 15, 16, 19, 21 (reinforces His Covenant);

Genesis 26:2-4 (more on the Land);

Genesis 35:11, 12 (still more on the Land; confirmation by King David in 1Chronicles 16:15-18);

Exodus 23:30-33 (boundaries outlined);

Numbers 34:1-12 (borders defined);

Deuteronomy 1:7, 8 (taking the Land), 20, 21 (commands His people to possess the Land); 2:24 (possess the Land); 4:25-31 (judgement concerning the Land);

Joshua 1:1-4 (boundaries confirmed);

Psalm 105:7-11 (covenant confirmed);

Ezekiel 47:13-23 (boundaries restated);

Ezekiel 48:14,29 (the Land, their inheritance).

In those days, a covenant was the most binding contract one could make with another, far more obligating than anything we could imagine today with our 21st century mindsets. Breaking a covenant was unthinkable. The world has no equivalent and no such moral scruples today.

Yahveh chose to make a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, through Isaac and Jacob not Ishmael, that was to last for all time. He (Yah) entered into the life of a man and his family living in a God-less world, inviting them to be His People, to worship only Him, to have fellowship with Him, to live in a land designated by Him, to obey His commands, and He would bless them beyond their wildest dreams.

In Judges 2:1 He declared: "I will NEVER break My Covenant or alter what My lips have uttered".

The Jewish people were later to be reminded of this by King David (in Psalm 105:8 and 1 Chronicles 16:15: "He (the Lord) remembers His Covenant forever, the word He commanded to a thousand generations".

No other country in the world has a title deed signed by the Creator, only Israel. The Land belongs to Israel: God's Word says so; it is very clear on this issue. However, full possession of the Land given to them by Yahveh (as their inheritance) will not happen until they return to the Lord. Israel's complete possession of the Land given to her by Yahveh depends on her faithfulness, on her 'getting right' with the Lord God Almighty.

That does not mean the Jewish people will possess the Land to the exclusion of all others (i.e. non-Jews). Not at all! The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel make it very clear that 'aliens' or non-Jews have a right to live in the Land and must be treated as equals . . .so long as they understand and accept the fact that the Land, on the basis of Yah's Covenant promise, belongs to Israel (see Eze.47:22,23; Isa.14:1; 56:6-7; regarding "inheritance", see Acts 11:18; 15:9; Eph.2:12-14; 3:6; Col.3:11).

Restoring the Jewish people to their rightful inheritance is not some sort of soppy, sentimental pie-in-the-sky idea. It is not important what our personal feelings are towards the Jewish people. They are His Chosen people and we are to respect that fact. Yahveh made an unbreakable commitment to them and that has to be honored, too.

If we as believers purport to serve the one true God, if we claim to walk with our Lord Yahshua (Jesus), then we are obligated to serve His Chosen People in a befitting manner; one that is pleasing to the Lord. And the sooner we 'Christians' get our heads around this, the better for all concerned!

Over the centuries, the Jewish people have profaned Yah's holy name. He knows that and He intends to restore His holy name, just as He intends to be seen to keep His promises, especially His Covenant with His Chosen people (and restore them to the Land He gave them).

Ezekiel 36:22-24 says: "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went". (23) "And I will vindicate the Holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am Lord," declares the Lord God, "when I prove Myself Holy among you in their sight".

Think about it!

I want to include the next verse (24) because not only does it refer to the ownership of the Land, this scriptue is being fulfilled right now; it is happening before our very eyes!

(24) "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own Land".

Each week, more and more Jewish people are seen going back to the Land of their forefathers; from all over the earth, they are returning "home". In the midst of that 35-day war (August 14, 2006), eight hundred Jewish olim made aliyah (to resettle in Israel); three planes arrived at Tel Aviv airport that day, one from London, one from New York, and one from Toronto, carrying Jewish people back to their inheritance.

In the light of all these scriptures referring to the declarations of Yahveh, we can be assured that He honors His Covenant, He keeps His Word, He fulfills His promises and so the Land belongs to His Chosen people, Israel, in perpetuity. Numbers 23:19 tells us:"God is not a man, that He should lie"; if the Lord were not to keep Covenant with Israel, what assurance would we Christians have that He would be faithful to us? Selah.

Shalom aleikhem
Peace be upon you
William