I was doing some research on the Internet recently. I came across an article claiming that the descendants of both Isaac and Ishmael own Israel. It said they shared in the land because they were both descendants of Abraham. I began to wonder how many folks really believe that.
Do you know who really owns the West Bank and the rest of Israel? Here’s a more interesting question. Do you have any idea how big Israel once was?
If you don’t know your Bible, you are going to be surprised.
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
Genesis 17:19-21
The covenant was to be filled through Isaac, but not through Ishmael. What was the covenant?
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Genesis 15:18
Adam Clarke’s Commentary says the river referred to was the Sichor River. It was near to the isthmus of Suez. In the days of David and Solomon, Israel had the land they were promised.
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
1 Kings 4:21
What Israel has today is not nearly the land they once had. The world has taken it away. In 1947, Palestine was divided into Jewish and Palestinian states. Fighting about the West Bank has been going on ever since. Imagine what would happen if we went back to what God gave them. Several countries would need to return land to Israel.
Recently, Israel has been under attack. I have not seen too much about it on the news. With things in Libya going like they are, the United States has jumped in. Unrest has been traveling across the Middle East. What will happen next is anyone’s guess.
Let us remember that the Jews are God’s chosen.
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:2
Let us also remember that Jesus was Jewish. The gospel was taken first to the Jews. We, the Gentiles, were grafted in.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to pray for our nation to stand firmly with the Word of God concerning the Jews. Pray for Israel. Pray for their protection. They are God’s chosen people. Israel – and more land than they have today – was given to the descendants of Isaac. It was God’s covenant with Abraham.
Pray also thanking God that He sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Thank Him for the resurrection. Jesus paid the price for our sins and beat death that we may have eternal life.