The question of whether God gave the land of Israel to the Jewish people for all time is an important one that has significant implications. There are several key passages in the Bible that provide insight into this issue.
In Genesis 12:1-3, God calls Abram (later renamed Abraham) and makes a covenant with him, promising to bless him and make him into a great nation. God tells Abram that He will make him the father of a great nation, bless those who bless him, and curse those who curse him. God also tells Abram that all the families on earth will be blessed through him. This begins the establishment of the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people.
Later, in Genesis 15:18-21, God makes a covenant with Abram and tells him that He is giving the land of Canaan (later known as Israel) to his descendants forever: “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.” This represents a permanent gift of the land to Abram’s descendants.
After the exodus from Egypt, God renews His promise to give the Israelites the land of Canaan. In Exodus 23:31, God promises to give them borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines and from the desert to the Euphrates. In Deuteronomy 1, as the Israelites are preparing to enter Canaan, God reminds them that He is giving them this land just as He promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
This promise of the land is ceremonially fulfilled in Joshua 21 when God gives Israel victory over the Canaanites and parcels out portions of the land to the 12 tribes. This represents the establishing of Israel in the Promised Land.
So Deuteronomy 4:40 falls within this larger context of God’s promises to give the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants as an everlasting possession. Moses is reviewing the law for the younger generation before they cross the Jordan river into Canaan. He reminds them of God’s intention to give them long life in the land He swore to their forefathers to give to them forever:
Therefore you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time. (Deuteronomy 4:40)
The promise that God would give Israel the land for all time is an important theme that runs throughout the first five books of the Bible. But the big question is – does “all time” really mean forever? There are differing viewpoints on this.
Yes – Israel’s possession of the land is unconditional and forever
There are several arguments to support the viewpoint that God’s gift of the land to Israel is unconditional, permanent, and forever:
- God’s covenant with Abraham was unilateral, unconditional, and eternal. God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants without attaching any conditions to it. God promised the land forever to Abraham’s descendants.
- The language of the covenant promises indicates permanence and eternity. Phrases like “for all time” and “forever” are used to describe the land promise.
- The promise was subsequently confirmed to Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s descendants, indicating God’s intention to fulfill it eternally.
- The land promise was part of God’s eternal plan to bring redemption through Abraham’s descendants. It supports God’s eternal plan and purposes.
- God’s gifts and callings are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Since this involved a calling and gift to Abraham and Israel, God will not revoke it.
- God’s covenant promises are compared to the permanence of nature itself (Jeremiah 31:35-37, 33:19-22). This indicates eternality.
So according to this view, Israel’s possession of the Promised Land depends solely on God’s unconditional, eternal promise to Abraham and his descendants. Israel’s disobedience and sin did not nullify this promise, but only interrupted the enjoyment of the land temporarily. Thus, this view holds that God gave Israel the land of Canaan forever, based on His eternal covenant promise.
No – The land promise was conditional upon Israel’s obedience
There are also arguments against the “unconditional, eternal” view of the land promise:
- There are conditions attached to the possession of the land, according to Deuteronomy 28. If Israel obeys, they will be blessed in the land. If they disobey, they will be exiled.
- God says if Israel breaks the covenant, He will dispossess them from the land and scatter them (Leviticus 26:27-45, Deuteronomy 28:63-68). This implies conditionality.
- Israel’s disobedience led them to be exiled and scattered on multiple occasions, indicating God’s discipline.
- Other nations (Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans) conquered the land and exiled Israel due to their disobedience.
- The prophets warned Israel would lose the land if they continued in disobedience and idolatry.
- Unconditional eternal possession despite disobedience seems inconsistent with God’s justice.
So according to this view, while God’s intention was to give Israel the land forever, this was conditioned upon their obedience and faithful covenant relationship with God. Because of their disobedience, Israel forfeited the land on multiple occasions.
Synthesis: eternal promise with temporary discipline
A mediating view seeks to acknowledge both God’s unconditional promise and the realities of Israel’s historic disobedience and loss of the land. It holds that:
- God’s promise to Abraham was an unconditional, eternal covenant not nullified by Israel’s disobedience.
- However, Israel’s enjoyment of the benefits of the land was conditioned on obedience to the Mosaic Covenant.
- God was just in temporarily evicting Israel due to disobedience, but intended to show mercy and restore them.
- Israel’s disobedience and exile did not permanently forfeit their covenant rights to the land.
- God will ultimately restore Israel to the land as part of His faithfulness to the eternal covenant with Abraham.
- The prophets speak of a future restoration of Israel that has not yet taken place.
According to this view, the Abrahamic covenant guarantees Israel’s permanent, eternal right to the land. But experiencing the blessings of the land depends on obedience. When Israel obeys, they experience blessing; when disobedient, they experience discipline and temporary exile. But the eternal covenant promise remains.
Israel’s return from exile was partial and temporary
When examining Israel’s history in the land, it is important to note that:
- The return from exile in Babylon was only partial. Many remained scattered among the nations.
- After returning, Israel only possessed the land for about 500 years before being exiled again under the Romans in AD 70.
- For almost 2,000 years now, Israel has been scattered and exiled from the land.
- So their return and possession of the land after the Babylonian exile does not represent a complete or permanent fulfillment of the promises.
This partial, temporary return must be taken into account when considering whether the land promise has been completely fulfilled. The prophets envisioned a complete, permanent restoration that has not yet fully happened historically.
New Testament perspective on the land promise
When we come to the New Testament, several additional factors come into play:
- Jesus is the promised royal descendant of Abraham who will mediate blessing to the nations (Matthew 1:1). This begins fulfillment of the Abrahamic promises.
- The gospel will go to all nations, fulfilling the global scope of Abraham’s blessing (Matthew 28:19, Romans 4:13).
- Believers from all nations are now children of Abraham and heirs to the promise (Galatians 3:7-9).
- The land and earth will ultimately belong to the meek and righteous (Matthew 5:5).
- The new covenant expands the promises beyond earthly Canaan to the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 11-16).
So the New Testament applies the Abrahamic promises more globally and spiritually to all in Christ, with a heavenly Jerusalem as the ultimate goal. Yet this does not exclude God’s promises to national Israel or an earthly fulfillment.
Conclusion: Nuanced and open-handed approach needed
In summary, there are good arguments on various sides of this issue. This is a complex theological debate with many facets. We must acknowledge both God’s eternal covenant promises and Israel’s historic disobedience. We must also recognize the partial nature of Israel’s return from exile.
As we await the complete fulfillment of God’s promises, humility, teachability and charitable dialogue are needed. Sincere believers can disagree on the precise details while affirming God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness.
The people of God today can benefit from gaining a more nuanced perspective that doesn’t force an either/or dichotomy. We can acknowledge the unresolved tensions in how the biblical texts speak of this subject. Yet the bigger picture is clear – God chose Israel and made promises to give them the land, and He will ultimately fulfill His promises completely. The Messiah came through Israel’s line, and God is not finished with the Jewish people yet. While we await the consummation of God’s promises, the people of God today trust in His eternal faithfulness, both to Israel and to all those who put their faith in Israel’s Messiah.
