Chapter 5

A Chosen Nation in a Chosen Land

"God hath chosen thee to be a people"...

It is said in the Holy Writ of the nation of Israel: "For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God: Jehovah thy God hath chosen thee to be a people for His own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth." And again, "Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Jehovah your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?" (Deut. 7:6-11; 4:32-40).

Their land was chosen for them long before the sons of Israel became "the twelve tribes of Israel." Deuteronomy 32:8-9, says: "When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance. When he separated the children of men, He set bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. For Jehovah's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance." When Abraham was chosen to be the father of this nation, God promised this land to Abraham and to his seed "for ever." The covenant described the boundary of this Abrahamic grant as reaching "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" (Gen. 13:14-18; 15:18). This original grant is very much larger than Israel has yet possessed, but by the grace of a covenant keeping God, Abraham will yet have the land in possession" (Acts 7:1-5).

"Thy God hath set the land before thee"...

When God brought Israel out of Egypt He brought them to the border of this original grant and said: "Behold, Jehovah thy God hath set the land before thee: go up, take possession, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath spoken unto thee; fear not, neither be dismayed." It was at this time that through unbelief they chose the spies to go through the land and later refused to go in (Deut. 1:19-33).

After forty years of wandering they entered, and had allot l^d to them, a much smaller land. This was under a different covenant (Deut. 29). The original grant is theirs by an unconditional covenant; their occupancy of this smaller land is conditioned on their obedience (Deut. 29:22-28). When Israel accepts their Messiah — the Lora Jesus, God will gather them back to the land promised Abraham (Ezek. 36:22-31). The land will be re-allotted to the tribes on an entirely different plan (Ezek. 47:21-23; 48:1-35).

"Jehovah rooted them out of their land"...

On the chart, just under the words, "The fortunes and misfortunes of Israel's land," you will observe a section running almost the full length of the chart; this represents Israel's land, from God's selection of it throughout the future reign of Christ. The light portion shows the land possessed by Israel, and the shaded portions when enemies had it in possession. Incorporated with this section on the lower side, there are two square and one oblong section; these represent periods when Israel was out of the promised land. The first is called "The sojourn in Egypt;" the second, "The 70 years captivity in Babylon;" the third, "The age-long world-wide dispersion." By reading the references given on the chart it may be seen that return was promised long before each of these periods began. The promise of return, in each case, was unconditional; that means that God takes all the responsibility of bringing it to pass. If conditions are unfavorable and hearts, are indifferent, God knows how to overcome conditions and indifference (Ezra 1:1, 5).

"Until he comes whose right it is"...

The world-wide dispersion really began when Israel, and later Judah, were carried into captivity. When Judah went into Babylonian captivity, God took the kingdom from His chosen people and gave it to the Gentiles. The Gentiles lease (Dan. 2:37, 38) was limited "Until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him" (Ezek. 21:24-27). The lease of power to the Gentiles is called by Christ, "the times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24); the change is noted in Revelation 11:15, and consummated in the 19th and 20th chapters. After the 70 years captivity there was a partial restoration. During this time the nation of Israel rejected their Messiah in the Person of Jesus. Again and again He was presented to them and each time the builders rejected the chief cap-stone (Matt. 21:42-46; Acts 4:11). A remnant according to the election of grace accepted Him, and the rest were hardened and set aside for this present dispensation (Rom. 11). The final world-wide dispersion occurred in 70 A. D. after the destruction of Jerusalem.

"No more plucked up out of their land"...

After all the sinning and casting out from their land, Israel will come to rest in God as a holy nation; converted and restored to their land they shall move no more (Ezek. 36: 22-38). Once thus restored, they shall dwell in the land for ever (Ezek. 37: 21-28; Jer. 31:35-40; Isa. 66:22). No matter how hard God may punish Israel, the last message is always one of salvation and peace and restoration to the land. The reader can see the proof of this statement by reading the last chapter in Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Zephaniah, and Zechariah. One should read also Isaiah from chapter 60 to the close. In their land and under Messiah, they shall be head of the Nations in the earth and Jerusalem will be capital of the world (Isa. 60:10-14; Zech. 14:16-21).