PROMISED LANDS OF GOD
There is much discussion and debate today about the promised lands spoken of in the Bible. The Bible speaks about two types of lands that God promised to the descendants of faithful Abraham–earthly and spiritual lands.
THE EARTHLY PROMISED LAND
The Lord made a covenant with Abraham, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi[e] of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). Known as the land of Canaan, this land came to be known as the country of Israel. However, it was subjugated and conquered by other nations. Nevertheless, in 1948 God seemed to have prevailed from heaven (Psalm 103:19) upon the United Nations to partition what was once called the land of Canaan into Israeli and Arab States).
A Bible commentator said, today, this land encompasses “modern-day Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, parts of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. While the modern nation-state of Israel occupies a portion of this territory, the precise boundaries of the Promised Land as described in the Bible are not fully delineated and are subject to various interpretations.”
There have been ongoing disputes and battles between Israelis and Arabs concerning the boundaries of their countries. It seems some Arab leaders think the land of Canaan originally belonged to them. But it appears some of Israel’s leaders believes that Gaza and other middle eastern territories are parts of the land God promised Israel.
However, the Scriptures reveals that the Lord created all people and things for his own glory (1 Colossians 1:16). “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.[a] 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36:22-28).
THE SPIRITUAL PROMISED LAND
The Bible informs us that Jesus Christ is the offspring of Abraham through whom all nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). Jesus was the descendant of Abraham according to the flesh, but the Son of God according to the Spirit of God (Matthew 1:1; Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is God’s promised Messianic Savior to all who accept him as their Lord. According to the Bible, Jews and people of all nations must accept him as their Savior and Lord and be filled with the Holy Spirit to qualify to enter the spiritual land of heaven (John 14:6).
The Lord Jesus Christ told a Pharisee, named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council: “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again” (John 1:1-18). Being born again begins by believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and the Holy Spirit entering you heart.
On the day of Pentecost when the disciples of Jesus Christ were preaching the gospel of salvation to Jews gathered in Jerusalem from around the world, the apostle Peter told them: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:38-41). “The believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went” (Acts 8:4).
Jesus tells all who accept him as God’s Messianic Savior and Lord: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8).
In speaking more about being a chosen spirit-filled Jew, the Bible says: “For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit” (Romans 2:28-29). Furthermore the Bible says, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile…for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). So, all spiritual Israel—Jews and non-Jews who accept Jesus Christ as the Messianic Savior—shall be saved (Romans 11:26; Acts 4:12). For Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
In dying on a cross and having resurrected from the dead, Jesus Christ defeated serpent-like devil who had the power of sin and death (Colossians 2:15; Genesis 3:15). Jesus opened the way for all believers—Jews and non-Jews– to enter the spiritual land of God the Father in heaven. Our Lord said: “you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).
