Slideshow image

““Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. It shall come about that just as all the good words which the Lord your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you. When you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.”” Joshua‬ ‭23‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Joshua is telling the people that they know in their minds, within their will, and within their emotions that the Lord’s words have not failed. However, the people will choose to go their own way. They will not believe God and He will remove them from the good land. Failure to follow will lead to their defeat, their discomfort, and their disgrace. 
Didn’t God promise the good land as an unconditional covenant? He did. And God always brought Israel back after their disobedience. However, they would have to go through suffering as a result of disobedience. 

What made the difference for Israel and what made the difference for us in regard to a permanency in the land? It was Jesus. He went by way of the earth. He chose to die so that we could have eternal life. It is only in Him that we have been placed permanently in the land of the Lord. We are His. Praise His name.

Israel has returned to the land in 1948, and most Biblical scholars believe this is a prophecy from Isaiah. Israel will never again be removed from their land. However, if you are in Christ, you are Israel. You will never be removed from the land of the Lord. He will keep us. He will not slumber or sleep. He is our shepherd who guards and keeps us safe, even when if feels like we are not guarded. This is because Jesus went by way of all the earth. He died and gave us life.