Editorial - The Heritage of The Lord

The people of Israel are called the heritage of the Lord; the land of Israel is also called the heritage of the Lord. So as His people and His land are His heritage according to His Word, then no other person or nation has the right to encroach on God's territory or legislate against God's people, let alone dictate terms and conditions that are contrary to His Word.

This is what we read, firstly in Exodus 6:8: "And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage; I am the LORD." Who but the owner of the land: "The land shall not be sold (or ceded?) permanently, for the land is mine" (Leviticus 25:23) could give it to the people of His choice?

Secondly, in Psalm 135:10 we see the outworking of God's promise to His people: "He defeated many nations and slew mighty kings . . . all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel his people."

Thirdly we read in Jeremiah 12:7 and 15 about Israel's punishment for sin and subsequent restoration: "I have forsaken my house, I have left my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies . . .

"Then it shall be, after I have plucked them out, that I will return and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his heritage and everyone to his land."

Hence we see that Israel, land and people, are not only God's heritage, but the land is also Israel's heritage, and as such should always be regarded by them as a very precious possession. There is an important Scripture that indicates how wrathful the Lord God will be against the ones who even divide up His land, as this is totally contrary to His will and purposes.

There is coming a day, recorded in Joel chapter two, when Almighty God will finalize His controversy with the rebellious nations by bringing them "down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat" in order that He might "enter into judgement with them there on account of my people, my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations"

And a further condemnation against these nations is the charge that "they have also divided up my land." This they have already done over many years, and this also is a charge that may be laid at the doors of the leaders of Israel themselves. They have done the very same thing, for whatever valid human reason.

In the day when God's people Israel are once again reconciled to Him by faith and acceptance of His Messiah, then His Word assures them that "He has declared to His people the power of his works, by giving them the heritage of the nations" (Psalm 111:6).