< Deuteronomy 11 >

The land was completely different from any land they had experienced during their lifetime. Egypt was irrigated by the River Nile and since leaving Egypt the people had been in the barren wilderness, but Canaan was a flourishing land watered by the rain from heaven. Rain was essential for its fertility and if the people were obedient God would bring them rain and bless them. If, contrariwise, they were disobedient God would withhold the rain and eventually remove them out of the land.

Hundreds of years later Israel were expelled for their disobedience and it became so barren that people could not believe it ever had been “a land flowing with milk and honey”. Nevertheless, as part of God’s purpose, the Jews have returned to the land. Israel is once more a nation therein, and it has begun to flourish again. It will flourish even more when Christ returns to it as Israel’s king, for people will then say: “This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden” (Ezekiel 36:35).Ezekiel 36:35XWaiting for response

The whole universe, including the earth, is God’s but he has chosen a particular part of this planet to be designated “his land”. He often refers to it as “my land” e.g. Ezekiel 38:16;Ezekiel 38:16XWaiting for response Joel 3:2.Joel 3:2XWaiting for response It is called “the LORD’s land” (Hosea 9:3)Hosea 9:3XWaiting for response and “the holy land” (Zechariah 2:12)Zechariah 2:12XWaiting for response and, because it is the land promised to Christ as the seed of Abraham, it is also called “Immanuel’s land” (Isaiah 8:8).Isaiah 8:8XWaiting for response This was the land Israel were about to enter and the LORD’s special attention and care for it was emphasised to them.

God promised to drive out the nations and give Israel all the territory promised to Abraham: from the river Euphrates in the north to the wilderness in the south; and from the river Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea (the uttermost Sea). Through Moses, God set before Israel a blessing and a curse, and Moses exhorted them to choose the blessing by obedience. In the scriptures we also have blessing and cursing set before us. Like Israel we are exhorted to choose God’s blessing.