For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing. (Deuteronomy 8:7-9)
One 19th century traveler visiting the Holy Land and surrounding areas said that the Arabs he encountered tasted bread, maybe, once a month. This is notable because Israel most definitely wandered through the Arabian peninsula during their journey and were fed with bread every day. The point is, God’s people will flourish when their adversaries are struggling. It may be raining hail and brimstone in Egypt, but for those who worship the God of Israel, He provides a shelter from such.
This principle is especially evident when His people came into the land of Israel. In a sense, they went from having just enough in the wilderness to having more than enough in the land of promise. In a manner of speaking, they enjoyed abundant life in Israel. There was a condition on this blessing, however, which was that they must continue to walk faithfully before the Almighty. When they failed to do this, they were expelled from the land and forced to wander once again. Without His people there, it was transformed from a land of plenty into a desolate, barren place — so much so that Mark Twain regarded it as “God forsaken.”
So then, the land of promise is reserved for one only type of people — a covenant people who are faithful to their God. The land of Israel responds favorably only to those who are set apart and who live in such a manner. This notion hearkens back to the very beginning when, in the garden, man could freely eat from the bounty produced by the garden, not to mention have fellowship with the Creator. This ceased, however, when man transgressed His commands. From that point, the Garden of Eden disappeared and, ever since, man has been striving to return to the Paradise that was. That was not made possible, though, until the last Adam reconciled all who are faith to the God of all. Through Him we have access to the Promise but with the same expectation — that we be a covenant people faithful to walk upright before our Maker.
As we continue in faith, we move ever closer to realizing all the benefits of that Promise, including being gathered to the Messiah to live under His Kingship in the Land of Promise. In that day it will be said, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden” (Ezekiel 36:35). I believe that day is fast approaching and so let us not grow weary but let us diligently contend for the faith so that we enjoy an abundant life in which we will lack nothing.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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