Israel and Israel’s Land as a Means for Blessing the Earth

If one considers the Abrahamic covenant as a whole we do see a relationship of the covenant to land.

First, Israel was promised a particular land with certain dimensions (Gen. 12:6-7; 13:14-17; 15:18-21) as part of the Abrahamic covenant. “For all the land which you see, I give to you and your descendants forever. (Gen. 13:14-15) Fulfilment of the land promise is even reaffirmed hundreds of years later during times of national apostasy:

‘As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers ( Jer. 16:15).

Second, both Israel and Israel’s land will be used by God to bless all people groups of the world, not just with salvation but blessings to the whole earth (Gen. 12:2-3; 22:17-18; Isa. 2:2-4; Ps. 72:18-19;  Zech. 9:10). As Israel is blessed, ultimately through the Messiah, blessings will spill over to other nations and their lands. Isaiah 27:6 states: “In the days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout, and they will fill the whole world with fruit.” Thus, Israel and Israel’s land function as microcosms of what God will do for all nations and their lands. As God blesses Israel, blessings will come to other nations (Isa. 19:15-25).

So it is theologically true that planet earth and the nations of the earth will be blessed. But it is through the means of Israel and Israel’s Messiah that this will occur. God has determined that particular blessings to Israel are the means for bringing blessings to the nations. The particular (Israel and Israel’s land) is the means for universal blessings (Gentile nations and their lands). This is a “both/and scenario,” not an “either or.”  The complete fulfilment of these universal land blessings awaits Israel’s salvation and the second coming of Jesus and His kingdom (Rom. 11:12, 15, 26-27; Matt. 19:28).

In the Scriptures, God specifically warns us that in the last days, He will judge the nations for dividing up His land. This is what Joel 3:1-2 says in the Modern English Version.

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgement with them there regarding My people and My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.”

Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those that curse Israel will be cursed.