“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land,” Genesis 12:7.
These words were spoken in 1921BC, according to Ussher’s esteemed ‘Chronology’. They are the first recorded words of the Lord to Abraham upon his reaching of Canaan, having left Ur of the Chaldees at the Lord’s command, verse 1.
The eternal intent of these words is denied by many believers. As far as they are concerned, God has no further use for the Jewish race, they have been abandoned by Him. Of course, the enemies of Israel, in the past and at the present time, reject utterly Israel’s claim upon that land God has bestowed upon them.
That is NOT what the Bible teaches!
In these words : —
I. WE HAVE THE LORD’S PRONOUNCEMENT WHICH SETTLES FOREVER THE OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL.
“Unto thy seed will I give this land.”
1. This wonderful promise was to be reiterated on many occasions. Here is one of God’s confirmations of His promise to Abraham. “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever,” Genesis 13:14-15.
The promise was repeated to Isaac. “And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;” Genesis 26:2-3.
Promises made to our fathers need to be repeated to us for them to be effectual comforts. How many comfort themselves in what their fathers had received from the Lord without ever seeking for themselves that same comfort and assurance from the lips of the Lord! (more…)