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Her Past, Present, and Future: Understanding the Role of Israel in History (Part 4)

 The Palestinian (Land) Covenant

     Four crucial aspects of the covenant amplify the land aspect of the Abrahamic covenant. First, from the beginning of the covenant relationship, God promised Abraham land (e.g., Genesis 12:1; 13:14-17; 15:7; 17:7-8). The land covenant not only reaffirms God’s commitment to give Israel the promised land, but it develops and adds important truths related to the land (e.g., Numbers 34:1-12; Deuteronomy 30:1-10). Second, the land covenant is an unconditional covenant since it is an elaboration of the land aspect of the Abrahamic covenant. Nothing, not even Israel’s rebellion and disobedience could nullify the covenant. Yes, Israel’s sin caused them to lose the right to live on the land, but the covenant has not been set aside. Any conditions were connected to the receiving or losing of blessing, not the fulfillment of the covenant promise.

     Some argue that Deuteronomy 30:1-3 makes the covenant condition because of the statements “when” and “then.”

When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul by doing everything I am commanding you today, then he will restore your fortunes, have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.

     A time element is the only conditional element here. The time element in no way makes the whole program or covenant conditional. The promise will be fulfilled when Israel repents and converts.

     Third, the land covenant is an everlasting covenant since it is a sub-covenant of the Abrahamic covenant. The God established His covenant with Abraham, He said,

For I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see (Genesis 13:15).

And to you and your future offspring I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as a permanent possession, and I will be their God (Genesis 17:8).

     This was confirmed later in Israel’s history,

But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish a permanent covenant with you (Ezekiel 16:60).

     Clearly, the land given to Israel by God is an everlasting possession. This fact is critical in understanding its fulfillment.

     Fourth, it is one thing to live in and enjoy the blessings of the land, altogether another thing to have ownership of the land. Abraham and his descendants were given the title deed to Canaan. God gave them the land; therefore, they own it. Because of the unconditional nature of the covenant, Israel will take possession of and live and enjoy the land.

     The fulfillment of this promise will occur when the Messiah returns. Until then, the people of Israel lost the privilege of dwelling in the land, but that in no way permanently sets aside the provisions of the covenant.

     The land promise was expanded into the Land Covenant found in Deut. 28-30. Ultimately, God states that both their suffering and their restoration will occur in the future (Deut. 4:30; 31:29).

     When Joshua took over leadership, the people of Israel were at the entrance of the land, but not in it. To complicate things further, there were enemies in the land. Would the people of Israel be able to take possession of the land? Was God going to fulfill the promise He had made to Abraham despite their unbelief?

     The reply to these question from God came in the form of a covenant:

When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul by doing everything I am commanding you today, then he will restore your fortunes, have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. Even if your exiles are at the farthest horizon, he will gather you and bring you back from there. The Lord your God will bring you into the land your ancestors possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply you more than he did your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live. The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. Then you will again obey him and follow all his commands I am commanding you today. The Lord your God will make you prosper abundantly in all the work of your hands, your offspring, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land. Indeed, the Lord will again delight in your prosperity, as he delighted in that of your ancestors,  when you obey the Lord your God by keeping his commands and statutes that are written in this book of the law and return to him with all your heart and all your soul (Deuteronomy 30:1–10).

     Moses indicated that only when all the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28 were fulfilled and when the people of Israel return to God and obey him (verses 1-2), then would the promises in chapter 30 verses 1-10 be fulfilled.

     Six promises are made by God in those ten chapters: First, God will regather the people of Israel which were scattered all over the world (vv. 3-4).

     Second, God will restore them to their ancestors’ land (v. 5).

     Third, God will regenerate the people of Israel; thus, they will love Him with all their heart and soul (v. 6).

     Fourth, Israel’s will be judged (v. 7).

     Fifth, the people of Israel will obey the Lord’s commands (v. 8).

     Sixth, the people of Israel will prosper (v. 9).

     Centuries after God made these promises of the Palestinian Covenant to Israel, some of them were repeated to later generations through Jeremiah (32:36–44) and Ezekiel (36:22–38).

 

All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

 

Copyright © 2020 by Miguel J Gonzalez Th.D.

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