God always keeps His promises

While preparing to meet his brother, Esau, for the first time since childhood, Jacob wrestled with a man all night until daybreak (Genesis 32:22-32). When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip to dislocate it. (From that day forth, Jacob, a strong man, walked with a limp.) Then the man said to Jacob, “Let me go; it is daybreak,” Jacob responded, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked Jacob, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but ‘Israel’ because you have struggled with God.”

Four thousand years ago, the land of Israel was promised to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham. God said to Abraham: “Leave your country (Ur of Chaldeans in Southern Mesopotamia—modern day Iraq) and go to the land that I will show you (Canaan—modern day Israel). I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse” (Genesis 12:1-3).

Abraham obeyed God and departed for the Promised Land. When Abraham arrived, God made him this promise: “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you” (Genesis 13:14-17). Deuteronomy 11:24 stated that the borders of Israel would extend from the desert in the south (Wilderness of Zin) to Lebanon in the north, and from the Euphrates River on the east to the Mediterranean Sea on the west. The land of Canaan was renamed ‘Israel’ after Jacob’s 12 sons. Jacob’s descendants comprised the 12 “tribes” of Israel.

God always keeps His promises. He promised never to destroy the earth again with a flood, and He hasn’t. God promised to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, and He sent Moses to lead their Exodus. He promised to bring the Israelites back into their land. And He did. After centuries of subjugation and massive dispersions throughout Europe, Israel became a nation in 1948. Israel now has a mighty army fortified with nuclear weapons and will never again be conquered.

Jewish prophets of the Old Testament expected God to set up His future kingdom in the Holy Land. Revelation 21:1-2 speaks of “a new heaven and a new earth.” Zechariah 8 stated “the Lord of Hosts will return to Zion (Jerusalem).” After 40 days of resurrection appearances, Jesus ascended from Mount Olivet into heaven while two angels prophesied He would return (Acts 1: 1-11).

Revelation brings God and Jesus together in heaven (Revelation 22:3). Preceding this event is the ‘Great White Throne Judgment’ of Revelation 20:11-15 where the people of all races will appear before God for judgment. Revelation 21:4 speaks of heaven as a place where “there is no crying, no pain, no death, and no sorrow.”

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