Israel's Divided Land

by PRASHER, G. | Category: Focus | Jun 2003

On the eve of the war with Iraq the United States President Bush announced that he was about to publish the 'road map to peace' - a timetable drawn up by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia designed to lead to the creation of a Palestinian State by Year 2005. The timing of this announcement was doubtless intended to influence Muslim opinion towards acceptance of American policy in the Middle East. For the attack on Iraq was seen by many Muslims in the Arab world as a crusade against Islam in general. To offset that view President Bush projected the wider picture of the overall Middle East situation, and confirmed the intention to address the Palestinian question also.

What is involved in the so-called 'road map'? On one hand that Palestinians renounce terrorism and Arab States confirm their recognition of the State of Israel. On the other hand Israel will be required to make concessions such as withdrawal from a proportion (undefined) of the 'occupied territories' and curtailment of Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas. From the historical perspective of the last century the rival territorial claims of Arab and Jew have been a topic of passionate international debate. World opinion is widely supportive of an independent Palestinian State, involving the reallocation of much of the territory controlled by Israel since the 1967 Six Day War. The status of Jerusalem is particularly controversial as the Palestinians claim the right to Eastern Jerusalem for their State capital.

So much for the historical and political background, which it seems will inevitably lead towards a revised division of the land. What about the scriptural perspective? To each of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob God pledged His word that 'this land' would be given to their descendants (Gen.12:7; 26:3; 35:12). There's a curious variation of the Genesis account in the Islamic tradition which claims it was Ishmael as the older son who inherited the greater blessing, not Isaac: a tradition which many Muslims feel justifies their prior claim to the land! This is of course at complete variation from the record of God's Word, so clearly endorsed for our assurance both by the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:44) and by His apostles (Rom.9:7).

In Genesis 15:18 the extent of 'the land' was defined as 'from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates'. The nearest approximation to Israel's control of such extensive territory would appear to have been under King Solomon, doubtless foreshadowing the full implementation of this divine promise in the coming millennial reign of Christ. However, Israel's occupation of the promised land was dependant on their obedience to God's Word (Deut.28:58,64,65). Old Testament history testifies to the repeated spiritual backsliding which so often resulted in the invasion of their territory by neighbouring nations, and finally to loss of nationhood and dispersal in Babylonian exile. A small minority of Jews returned to occupy part of the ancient territory by permission of the Persian Emperor. Then history repeated itself, and Israel's rejection of the Lord Jesus, the Christ of God, again resulted in their expulsion from their own land by the Romans, and a dispersion which would extend from the first to the twentieth century.

Does not the same principle hold good today? The Israel nation comprises a small proportion of Jews in today's world. The Orthodox of Judaism among them passionately claim the title deeds of Israel's heritage as promised to Abraham. Yet as a nation Israel still disowns the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Anointed. On the one hand, their renewed nationhood in occupation of part of the promised land is clearly according to the prophetic scriptures regarding the time of the end. On the other hand, they are still experiencing chastisement for their unbelief, including strong resistance to their occupation of much of the territory promised to the patriarchs. In the light of this, is it not remarkable that when the Lord Jesus judges the nations at His return to earth (Mat.25:31,32) part of the indictment against them will be that they have 'divided up My land', as Joel the prophet confirms:

'When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,

I will also gather all nations,

And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;

And I will enter into judgement with them there

On account of My people, My heritage Israel,

Whom they have scattered among the nations;

They have also divided up My land'.

In the final analysis it is God's land, and He has allocated it to Israel according to covenant promise.

PRASHER, G. | Jun 2003
Focus