Abram (Abraham) was concerned about his flocks and the flocks of his nephew Lot, so he separated them, “And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I GIVE TO YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS FOREVER.” (Genesis 13:14-15) Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits THE SAME LAND, bears THE SAME NAME, speaks THE SAME LANGUAGE, and worships THE SAME GOD that it did 3,000 years ago.
How big was this land? “…the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, FROM THE RIVER OF EGYPT to the great river, THE RIVER EUPHRATES…” (Genesis 15:18) “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From THE WILDERNESS AND THIS LEBANON AS FAR AS THE GREAT RIVER, THE RIVER EUPHRATES, all the land of the Hittites, and TO THE GREAT SEA toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.” (Joshua 1:3-4) As they were about to finally posses the promised land the Lord said, “…this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance…(all of the boundaries God promised are described in detail)…THIS SHALL BE YOUR LAND WITH ITS SURROUNDING BOUNDARIES.” (Numbers 34:2-12)
Why has God favored Israel? Because of His promise to Abraham and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have not withheld your son, your only son— in blessing I WILL BLESS YOU, and multiplying I WILL MULTIPLY YOUR DESCENDANTS as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:16-18) As of 2013, the State of Israel had been condemned in 45 resolutions by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
What does the Lord say about this? “I will also gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of MY PEOPLE, MY HERITAGE ISRAEL, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.” (Joel 3:2) “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
IF WE ARE FAITHFUL TO GOD, HE WILL TAKE CARE OF US…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham