If you have not followed the last two days, please take the “run up” to today’s thoughts:

• Is Israel in Her Land Permanently?
• Bring the King Home!

We began with the premise that God has called Israel to bless all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3), and they are the vessel through which God will bring eternal redemption.  We referenced the Abrahamic Covenant in which God promised land and descendants, but we posed the question, “If God promised land to the Jews, why were they driven out?”  We have surmised that Israel must be in her land in order for Jesus to return, and that she has been exiled and returned to the land twice (Babylonian exile and return, 70 AD exile and 1948 return).

So, to the question at hand! Genesis 12 and Genesis 15 detail God’s covenant with Abraham, and there we find that God promises descendants and an everlasting land.  So, why was Israel driven from the land…not once, but at least twice?  Great question!

First, we must understand that the privilege of LIVING in the land is different than OWNING the land.  Even when Israel was in exile, the land remained hers.  Over and over in Scripture we see that when Israel is rebellious toward God, land is taken or they are driven out.  Yet, when they are faithful to God, He draws them back. (Deuteronomy 30:1-6 is a very clear example.)  They return to their land because it belongs to them…because God has been faithful throughout history to “hold”it for them!  So, Israel living in the land is conditional…though the land has always, and will always, be theirs.

Jeremiah 25:6-11 also teaches that God’s correction, judgment, and discipline will follow Israel’s failure to be faithful and righteous.  Throughout history, Israel living in the land did not mean she would occupy it forever, and I believe the same remains true today.  Could Israel lose land in the midst of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks or UN unilateral decisions to grant Palestine statehood?  Perhaps.

Though in my own personal view, I don’t believe Israel will be fully driven out again (as it seems to me that the return in 1948 initiated the two-phase return that will ultimately usher in the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ), I believe it is possible that the landmass of Israel will change.  My prayer is that Israel will turn to the Lord, not only in order to regain territory, but to prepare for the coming of the Messiah!

So, in summary, over the past three days we have considered not only why the Jews were driven from the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants, but also whether or not Israel is permanently back in her land.  Remember, I set forth a thesis to be proved or disproved.  I’ll let you pick up the study from here and determine for yourself what you believe the answers to be!  Meanwhile, I hope I have provided food for thought!

Blessings, my friends!

PS: Friends, you have got to come back tomorrow!  Just as I finished writing this, I read a piece that ties the last three days together beautifully.  Don’t miss it…you will be blessed!