On January 12, a popular televangelist said on his television program that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke because, "He was dividing God's land." The televangelist continued, "And I would say, 'Woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the E. U., the United Nations or the United States of America.' God says, 'This land belongs to me. You better leave it alone.'" Although the televangelist later apologized for this statement, it does reveal a long held belief by many that God still owes Israel the fulfillment of the promises He made in the Old Testament. Is this true? What does the Bible teach?

Does God Owe Land to Israel?
A popular belief reflected in the televangelist's comments is that the present "land of Palestine" still belongs to "Israel." However, an honest examination of Biblical evidence reveals otherwise. Yes, God did tell Abraham, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee....Unto thy seed will I give this land" (Gen. 12:1-7). This promise, however, was fulfilled in the days of Joshua. Before they entered into the land, God said, "When thou shalt...corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger 26...ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. 27And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen..." (Deut. 4:25-27). Their remaining in the land was conditioned upon their obedience to the Lord (cf. Deut. 28:58-68)! Under Joshua, the land promise was completely fulfilled. "And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers...45There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass" (Josh. 21:43-45, emphasis added). Eventually, God's people were carried away into captivity for, among other things, idolatry (cf. Hos. 4:12-19; 8:5-14; Amos 5:5; Mic. 1:1-9). Israel forfeited the land through their disobedience. Remember the condition: when Israel would "corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image...and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God," they would be driven from the land. By God's grace, a remnant from all twelve tribes did return to the land, and Israel's identity was restored (cf. Ezr. 2:70; 3:1; 6:16-17; 8:35). Below, we will note a major implication of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, but suffice it to say for now that God has fulfilled His land promise to Israel. He does not owe them any land!

Does God Owe "Chosen People" Status to Israel?
Without doubt, Old Testament Israel comprised the chosen people of God. Moses said, "...the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers..." (Deut. 7:6-8). When God entered into a covenant relationship with Israel, He said, "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Ex. 19:5-6). A covenant is an agreement that is equally binding on both parties. When one party breaks the covenant, the other party is no longer obligated. Israel time and time again broke the covenant; therefore, God promised to make a "new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah" (Jer. 31:31-34). Israel, as the chosen people of God, was never meant to be a permanent part of God's plan. Israel and the Law of Moses were God's way of bringing us to Christ (Gal. 3:24-25). Now that Christ has come, the nation of Israel has fulfilled its purpose. Israel's rejection of Christ allowed the Gentiles full access as the "people of God" (Rom. 11:25). People living today who call themselves "Israel" are not the "chosen people of God" as was Old Testament Israel!

Does Old Testament Israel Even Exist Today?
Paul said, "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel" (Rom. 9:6). Again, he said, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom. 2:28-29). The true "Israel of God" now, is the church, those who "walk according to this rule [the Gospel]" (Gal. 6:4). Spiritually, ancient Israel's Law of Moses ended when it was fulfilled at the cross (Col. 2:14). Politically, the nation of Israel came to an end with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The "Israel" of today has no connection at all with the Israel we read about in the Bible. Because no ancient records survived AD 70, no "Israelite" today can prove his or her lineage back to Abraham. In 1998, the media correctly observed the 50th anniversary of today's "Israel." Shouldn't that tell us something? Religious leaders, politicians, and we must realize that "all Israel" is to be saved like anyone else living in our age-through the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16; 11:25-36)! May we go back to the Bible and realize God doesn't owe anyone anything, but we owe Him our very lives!