The Abrahamic Covenant

 The Land

The tension is over the land.  Who owns this piece of real estate?  To begin to understand who owns the land, we need to look at the first book of the Bible, The Book of Genesis, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis. 1:1).

Why does the Torah start with God creating the world and the universe?  You would think God would want to start the Bible with the first commandment that was given to Israel: “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months” (Ex. 12:2).  Why would He choose to mention that He created the heaven and the earth at the very outset?  The answer is found in Psalm 111:6, “He has shown his people the power of His works, that He may give them the heritage of the heathen.” 

The Hebrew word translated “heathen” can also be translated (“nations” or “Gentiles”).  Therefore, God created the earth thus showing “the power of His works” in order “that He may give them (Israel) the heritage of the nations.”

Therefore, the entire world belongs to God.  He created it, He fashioned it by His power.  He spoke it into existence.  It is His!  As a result, He can give it to whomever He wishes.

Legal Rights

The Scripture tells us that God took a certain piece of land, from the world He created, and gave it to Israel.  O yes, He allowed other people to live there for a while.  But when the time had come, He promised it and gave it to the descendants of Abraham through Isaac.

God is instructing (Torah means teaching or instruction; law) us from the very beginning of the Bible who owns the Land.  God created it.  Therefore, He owns it, and He gave it to Israel.  Therefore, Israel has a legal right to it.

The Book of Genesis is a book of firsts or beginnings.  God is teaching us concerning His first principles.  This thought carries over throughout the whole of Scripture. “The Lord possessed me in the beginning (or first principle) of His way, before His works of old” (Proverbs 8:22).

God says of Israel, “Israel was holiness unto the LORD and the firstfruits of his increase (or the beginning , or first choice of His harvest or crop):  all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 2:3).

God also says of Israel, “This people have I formed (created) for myself; they shall show forth my praise” (Isa. 43:21).  Therefore, the emphasis of Genesis chapter one is not only that God created the earth and the universe, but also, that because He created it, the land technically belongs to Him.  And since it belongs to Him, He can give it to whomever He wishes.  So where is this land that was given to Israel?

The Land Grant

The land promised to Israel is found in Genesis 15:18 and Ezekiel 48:1-29.  Reading these verses, you find that the land given to Abraham from God extends from the River of Egypt to the Great River Euphrates, from Hamath, near Damascus, to Kadesh in the south.

The inheritance of the land belongs to the Jews.  So, when will this take place?  The fact the land was given to the Jews by God, and that they would be scattered throughout the world until the last days, and then return to the land is found throughout Scripture.  We learn that the return will be progressive (Ezekiel. 37) and will culminate when Messiah comes and establishes His kingdom.

Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1 – 3, 6, 7; 13:14 – 17; 15; 17:1 – 14; 22:15 – 18).

This land grant is part of the Abrahamic Covenant. God promised Abraham many things, including, He would make his name great (Genesis 12:2); have many children (Genesis 13:16); be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4,5); and promises him a nation called Israel with geographical boundaries (Genesis 12:7; 13:14,15; 15:18 – 21). And that all the families of the earth will be blessed by his linage (Genesis 12:3; 22:18) speaking of the Messiah.

The Covenant is unconditional

 Abram asked, “How shall I know?” (Genesis 15:8).  God said to him, bring Me a three-year-old heifer, goat, ram, turtledove, and pigeon, cut them in two and place them opposite each other. God told him about his future.  Then in the evening God passed through the halves of the animals, thus making the Covenant unconditional.  Only God passed through the halves of the animals making the Covenant based on God and His faithfulness alone.  God gave Abram proof assuring him that God would keep His word.  The total focus of the Covenant was the faithfulness of God to keep His word (Genesis 15:9 – 21).

The Covenant is Eternal

 It is timeless completely dependent upon God. It is not based upon Israel’s obedience.

This is the reason I align with Israel. It is not political, nor based on something popular.  I stand with Israel because of the Covenant made between Abram and God. The Abrahamic Covenant is eternal.