The Land Grant

The Land Grant Who owns the land?The tension is over the land. Who owns this piece of real estate? To begin to understand who owns the land, we need to look at the first book of the Bible, The Book of Genesis

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1)

Why does the Torah start with God creating the world and the universe? You would think God would want to start the Bible with the first commandment that was given to Israel: “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months” (Ex. 12:2). Why would He choose to mention that He created the heaven and the earth at the very outset?The answer is found in Psalm 111:6. “He hath shewed his people the power of His works, that He may give them the heritage of the heathen.”

The Hebrew word translated “heathen” can also be translated (“nations” or “Gentiles”). Therefore, God created the earth thus showing “the power of His works” in order “that He may give them (Israel) the heritage of the nations.”

So the entire world belongs to God. He created it, He fashioned it by His power. He spoke it into existence. It is His! As a result He can give it to whomever He wishes.Legal Rights

The Scripture tells us that God took a certain piece of land, from the world He created, and gave it to Israel. O yes, He allowed other people to live there for a while. But when the time had come, He promised it and gave it to the descendants of Abraham through Isaac.

God is instructing (Torah) us from the very beginning of the Bible as to who owns the Land. God created it. Therefore, He owns it.. and He gave it to Israel. Therefore, Israel has a legal right to it.

The Book of Genesis is a book of firsts or beginnings. God is teaching us concerning His first principles. This thought carries over throughout the whole of Scripture. “ The Lord possessed me in the beginning (or first principle) of His way, before His works of old” (Proverbs 8:22).

God says of Israel, “Israel was holiness unto the LORD and the firstfruits of his increase (or the beginning , or first choice of His harvest or crop): all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come unpt them, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 2:3).

God also says of Israel, “This people have I formed (created) for myself; they shall shew forth my praise” (Isa. 43:21).Therefore, the emphasis of Genesis chapter one is not only that God created the earth and the universe, but also, that because He created it, the land technically belongs to Him. And since it belongs to Him, He can give it to whomever He wishes. So where is this land that was given to Israel?

The Land Grant

The land promised to Israel is found in Genesis 15:18 and Ezekiel 48:1-29. Reading these verses you find that the land given to Abraham from God extends from the River of Egypt to the Great River Euphrates. From Hamath, near Damascus, to Kadesh in the south.

The inheritance of the land belongs to the Jews. So when will this take place? The fact the land was given to the Jews by God, and that they would be scattered throughout the world until the last days, and then return to the land is found throughout Scripture. We learn that the return will be progressive (Eze. 37) and will culminate when Messiah comes and establishes His kingdom.

So when we pray for the “peace of Jerusalem” (Ps. 122:6), we are actually praying “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

Will the Palestinian Prime Minister, the Israeli Prime Minister, the UK Prime Minister or the President of the US bring lasting peace to Israel? Unfortunately no. There will be no peace until the Prince of Peace comes.

Until then, Christians have a job to do. We must pray for Israel, stand with Israel and share with them the hope of their Messiah, the Lord Jesus.