Good Morning.
“And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.” (Exodus 6:8)
In other translations of this verse, “I swore” is rendered, “I lifted up my hand.” It’s as if the Sovereign of the Universe goes on record to say to all generations that the promise of Canaan to Abraham and his seed is irrevocable. The word translated as “heritage” –- morashah — literally means “possession” and comes from a root that means to “dispossess, remove.” This hints that those who are not promised the land but who are inhabiting it will be removed if need be. In the context of this promise, any people other than the seed of Abraham would be considered as squatters. It’s not politically correct to say such but it is very biblically correct — the Creator of all things has sworn that it will be so.
The land of Israel is so much more than an inheritance that might be squandered or sold off to the highest bidder. The land that God swore to give to Abraham’s seed is an eternal possession for Israel — even if most of Israel has not seen the land. Coincidentally, the Hebrew word translated as “heritage” here, is the same word used to describe the Torah:
Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. (Deuteronomy 33:4)
Just as the land is considered an eternal possession, so too is the commission given to God’s people to live in a way that pleases the Most High. In fact, whether Israel was allowed to continue in the land of Canaan was always dependent on their obedience to God. When they obeyed Him, they were blessed and lived unmolested in the land. When they strayed and broke covenant with Him, blessings became curses and they were at the mercy of their enemies. When Israel disobeyed it was they who were subject to removal from the land.
The point is this: “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29) but that doesn’t mean that they are to be abused. God’s ways — how we are to live — are pregnant with inherent blessings. When we are obedient to Him, we enjoy those blessings. However, when we are determined to go our own way and do our own thing, we suffer the inherent consequence of disobedience. Thus, the eternal heritage promised by God is for those who are pursuing Him and His righteousness. Let us, then, remove from our lives all thoughts, attitudes and deeds that would prevent us from possessing these promises. Let us seek His face and His Kingdom that we might inherit the blessing of Abraham.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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