Wednesday, 30 July 2008 14:07
Written by Ken Garrison
Page 1 of 5
Excerpt #1 from the book, Bible Prophecy, by Pastor Ken Garrison
(Note: in order for this article to be effective, the reader needs to read the listed Scripture references. The full text of the Scriptures have been removed for copyright and space concerns.)
God’s Covenant with Israel
The promise of the continuation of the people of Israel and their ultimate regathering to the Land of Israel is based on the covenant promises that God made to Abraham and, in turn, to the nation of Israel.
(Genesis 15:18)
Later God said to Israel,
(Exodus 23:31)
And,
(Deuteronomy1:7-8)
Thus at the heart of the covenant which God made with Israel is the land where God intends them to dwell in. Evidently, in the heart of God, the combination of His people and His land is very important. Therefore, the prophets spoke boldly as they saw visions of the ultimate ingathering of the exiles to the land of Israel in the last days. The visions were simply a fulfillment of the covenant provisions that God had earlier made.
God foresaw that Israel would sin and eventually be driven from the land. Moses recorded the warning of God's judgment for disobedience as a series of increasingly harsh disciplinary actions by God against His people (Leviticus 26:14-46). In addition, Moses warned Israel of the consequence of sin and disobedience. (Deuteronomy 27-30). The levels of discipline recorded in Leviticus 26 and the “blessings” and “curses” recorded in Deuteronomy 27-30 indicate that there are specific requirements of righteousness imposed by God on Israel as a condition for uniting the people with the land. In every era when the people and the land have been joined, a unique blessing of revelation has occurred. There was, however, never any question of the continuation of covenant relationship even in the event where Israel’s sin became so odious that God drove them from the land.
