Israel and the Land | 12 Descriptions of the Land
A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY
God gives 12 descriptions of the land of Israel in the Bible. You may have read the article, An Overflowing Land in Above Rubies #81 where I liken the descriptions of the land of Israel to our land of wifehood and motherhood. Here are the Scriptures if you would like to check them out in your Bible. Nancy
1. IT IS A LAND THAT FLOWS WITH MILK AND HONEY
Exodus 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3; Leviticus 20:24; Numbers 13:27; 14:8; 16:13-14; Deuteronomy 6:3; 11:9; 26:9, 15; 2 7:3; 31:20; Joshua 5:6; Jeremiah 11:5; 32:22; Ezekiel 20:6 and 20:5.
2. IT IS A GOOD LAND
Exodus 3:8; Numbers 14:7; Deuteronomy 1:25, 35; 3:25; 4:21-22; 6:18; 8:7, 10; 9:6; 11:17; 30:5; Joshua 23:13-16; Judges 18:9; 1 Kings 14:15; 1 Chronicles 4:40; 28:8; Ezra 9:12; Psalm 85:12; Isaiah 1:19; Jeremiah 2:7 and Ezekiel 34:14.
3. IT IS A DELIGHTFUL LAND
Psalm 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19; Ezekiel 20:6, 15; Daniel 8:9; 11:16, 41; Zechariah 7:14 and Malachi 3:12.
4. IT IS A LARGE LAND
Exodus 3:8; 24:23; Exodus 24:23; Deuteronomy 12:20 and Isaiah 54:2-3.
5. IT IS A LAND WHERE WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY DEPEND ON GOD
Deuteronomy 11:10-12
6. IT IS A FRUITFUL LAND
GOD PROMISES TO BLESS THE FRUIT OF THE LAND
Leviticus 19:23, 25:18-19; 26:4-10; Numbers 13:23-27; Deuteronomy 7:7-9;11:13-15; 28:1-14; Nehemiah 9:25; Psalm 85:12; 107:36-38; Isaiah 30:23-24; 65:21; Jeremiah 2:7; 3:16; 23:3; 31:5; Ezekiel 24:27; 36:8-9; 29-30 and Amos 9:14-15 and Zechariah 8:12.
GOD PROMISES TO BLESS THE FRUIT OF THE WOMB.
Genesis 1:28; 9:1, 7; Deuteronomy 6:3; 7:13; 8:1; 28:4, 11; 30:5, 16; Isaiah 26:15; Ezekiel 36:10-12, 37 and Zechariah 8:4-5 and 10:8.
7. IT IS A SAFE LAND
Leviticus 25:18-19; 26:4-6; 28:26; Deuteronomy 12:10; 33:28; Isaiah 32:18; Jeremiah 23:6; 32:37; Ezekiel 28:25-26; 34:27-28; 38:11 and Micah 4:4.
8. IT IS A LIFE-GIVING LAND
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
9. IT IS A LAND OF PROVISION
Deuteronomy 28:11; 30:9
10. IT IS A LAND OF BLESSING
Deuteronomy 28:8; 30:16
Deuteronomy 15:4 says, “The Lord shall GREATLY BLESS thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it.”
Here are some of the specific blessings God pours out upon us in our land:
Blessings of fruitfulness (Genesis 1:28; 22:17; 28:3; Deuteronomy 7:13-14; Psalm 107:38; 115:14).
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb (Genesis 49:25).
Blessings of weddings and celebrations (Jeremiah 33:10-11, cf. Jeremiah 7:34; 16:9; 25:10).
Blessings of bread and water (Exodus 23:25).
Blessings of God’s watchful care (Numbers 6:24-25).
Blessings of peace (Numbers 6:26; Psalm 29:11).
Blessings upon all that we do (Deuteronomy 2:7; 14:29; 15:10, 18; 16:15; 23:20; 24:19; 28:8, 12).
Blessings of health (Deuteronomy 7:15)
Blessings on our children (Psalm 115:14; 147:13b; Isaiah 44:3).
Blessings if we live in the city or the country (Deuteronomy 28:3).
Blessings on our cattle and produce (Deuteronomy 28:4-5, 11; Psalm 132:15; 107:36-38).
Blessings on our daily walk (Deuteronomy 28:6).
Blessings of reigning instead of servitude (Deuteronomy 15:16; 28:13).
Blessings of lending to others instead of borrowing (Deuteronomy 15:16; 28:12).
Blessings on our land and gardens (Deuteronomy 30:16; Psalm 107:37).
11. IT IS A HOLY LAND
Zechariah 2:12
12. IT IS A CHALLENGING LAND
Joshua 11:16
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Although God gave the land of Israel to the Israelites and it belongs to them by an everlasting decree and promise, they also had to do their part to go into the land. God also blesses us with motherhood but we have to do our part to fully enjoy it.
1. WE HAVE TO POSSESS THE LAND
Leviticus 20:24; Numbers 14:24; 33:53; Deuteronomy 1:8, 21; 4:1, 5, 14, 22; 5:31-33; 6:1, 19, 7:`1; 8:1; 9:1 10:11; 11:8, 10-11, 31; 12:1-2, 29; 15:4; 19:1; 23:20; 25:19; 30:5,16; 31:3, 13; Joshua 1:11; 18:3; 23:5; Judges 2:6; 18:9; Isaiah 57:13b; 61:7 and Jeremiah 30:3.
2. WE HAVE TO DWELL IN THE LAND
Leviticus 25:18; 26:5; Numbers 33:53; Deuteronomy 11:31; 12:10; 30:20; Psalm 37:3, 29; 69:35-36; Isaiah 30:19; 32:18; Jeremiah 23:7-8; 25:5; Ezekiel 28:25; 34:13; 36:24; 37:14; 36:28 and 37:25.
3. WE HAVE TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY IN THE LAND
Numbers 33:50-55; Deuteronomy 7:2-5; 9:3; 12:2-3; 25:19 and Joshua 23:7, 12-13.
4. WE HAVE TO ENJOY THE LAND
Joshua 1:15 and Isaiah 61:7.
5. WE HAVE TO LIVE GOD’S WAY IN THE LAND, NOT OUR WAY
Leviticus 25:18-19; Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 5-9, 14; 5:31-33; 6:1-3, 18; 11: 8; 12:1, 28, 32; 30:16; 32:46-47 and Joshua 23: 7-8.
6. WE HAVE TO KNOW THE “GOD OF THE LAND.”
2 Kings 17:26-27
7. WE HAVE TO PASS THIS GOOD LAND ON TO OUR CHILDREN
Deuteronomy 1:8; 6:4-9; 11:8-9; 18-28, 12:1; 18-23; 12:28; 187:21; 31:12-13; 32:46-47; Psalm 69:36 and 2 Chronicles 28:8.