What does "gave their land as an inheritance" reveal about God's sovereignty? Setting the Scene Psalm 135:12: “He gave their land as an inheritance, a heritage to His people Israel.” Psalm 136:21-22: “and gave their land as an inheritance—for His loving devotion endures forever—an inheritance to Israel His servant—for His loving devotion endures forever.” What the Phrase Means • “Gave” – an act completed by God, not earned by Israel • “Their land” – the territories of the defeated Canaanite kings (cf. Psalm 135:10-11) • “Inheritance” – a permanent, covenantal grant, not a temporary loan (cf. Genesis 17:8) God’s Sovereignty on Display • Absolute ownership: “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). Giving land presumes He owns it all. • Unilateral decision: God chose the timing and the boundaries (Acts 17:26). No vote, no negotiations. • Power over nations: He “drove out nations before them” (Psalm 78:55), proving that kings and armies are subject to His command. • Covenant faithfulness: The promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:18 becomes visible centuries later, showing He rules history as well as geography. • Irreversible grant: Joshua 21:43 affirms, “So the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers.” What He sovereignly bestows remains theirs by His decree. Layers of Sovereign Purpose 1. Preservation: A land allows Israel to flourish, keep the Law, and preserve the messianic line (Genesis 49:10). 2. Revelation: By public victories, surrounding nations “might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful” (Joshua 4:24). 3. Redemption storyline: The land becomes the stage for Messiah’s arrival (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-7). 4. Foreshadowing: Israel’s inheritance previews the ultimate, universal reign of Christ and the renewed earth promised to all believers (Romans 4:13; Revelation 21:1-3). Takeaways for Today • God still directs world events; His plans are never thwarted (Job 42:2). • What He promises, He performs—even if fulfillment spans generations. • Our personal “inheritance” in Christ (1 Peter 1:3-4) is just as secure as Israel’s land grant was, because both rest on the same sovereign character. |
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