In the biblical context, the concept of "homeland" is deeply intertwined with themes of promise, identity, and divine purpose. The notion of a homeland is not merely geographical but is also spiritual, reflecting the relationship between God and His people.

The Promised Land

The idea of a homeland is first introduced with God's promise to Abraham. In Genesis 12:1, the Lord commands Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you." This land, later known as Canaan, becomes the Promised Land, a central theme throughout the Old Testament. It is a tangible symbol of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Genesis 17:8 states, "And to you and your descendants I will give the land of your sojourn—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God."

Exile and Return

The history of Israel is marked by periods of exile and return, underscoring the significance of the homeland. The Babylonian exile, for instance, was a time of profound loss and longing for the Israelites. Psalm 137:1 poignantly captures this sentiment: "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept when we remembered Zion." The return from exile, as chronicled in books like Ezra and Nehemiah, represents a restoration of both the physical land and the spiritual relationship with God.

Spiritual Homeland

In the New Testament, the concept of homeland takes on a more spiritual dimension. The writer of Hebrews speaks of a heavenly homeland, emphasizing faith and the eternal promise. Hebrews 11:16 states, "But they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." This reflects the Christian belief in a spiritual inheritance and eternal life with God.

Pilgrimage and Sojourning

The Bible often describes life on earth as a pilgrimage or sojourning, suggesting that the true homeland for believers is not of this world. 1 Peter 2:11 refers to Christians as "foreigners and exiles," urging them to live in a way that reflects their heavenly citizenship. This perspective encourages believers to focus on their spiritual journey and ultimate destination with God.

The New Jerusalem

The Book of Revelation culminates with the vision of the New Jerusalem, a divine homeland where God dwells with His people. Revelation 21:2-3 describes this vision: "I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.'"

In summary, the biblical concept of homeland encompasses both the physical land promised to the Israelites and the spiritual promise of eternal life with God. It is a theme that reflects God's faithfulness, the identity of His people, and the ultimate hope of redemption and restoration.

Jesus' Law for the Use of Money.
... That is the sort of coin current in the homeland. This yellow stuff we
call riches they use for paving stones up in the homeland. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/jesus law for the use.htm

Foreign Exchange.
... Exchange your gold into men. Buy up some of the kind of coin they use in the
homeland, so that you may have some wealth when you get there. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/foreign exchange.htm

Our Deliverance from the Boxers (1900)
... MANY times we were asked in the homeland to tell the story of our escape during
the Boxer uprising, and often the question was put, "If it was really God's ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/v our deliverance from the.htm

Gold-Exchanged Lives.
... port. When you get through with your life down here"it will be a long
life, I hope"you will go up and into the homeland. And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/gold-exchanged lives.htm

Haweis
... He died in 1901. It is very doubtful whether Dr. Haweis is properly credited with
the hymn here attributed to him. The Homeland! O the Homeland 615. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/haweis.htm

To his Praise!
... Missionaries, especially we missionary women, know only too well how we are criticized
in the matter of dress, when in the homeland and when traveling. ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/ix to his praise.htm

"Go Forward on Your Knees"
... two centers. It would be difficult for those in the homeland to understand
what the years of waiting had meant to some of us. The ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/iii go forward on your.htm

Fresh Supplies of Power.
... and act. Such a man invariably provides himself with a home in which is
breathed the atmosphere of his far away homeland. Now we ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/fresh supplies of power.htm

Hillis -- God the Unwearied Guide
... The good news went forth on wings of the wind. Making ready for their return to
their homeland, all the captives gathered on the outskirts of the desert. ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/hillis god the unwearied.htm

What the Perfection of Man Consist of in this Life
... And since the glory of the beatitude which is achieved in our heavenly homeland
consists in the complete fulfilment of these three faculties, it follows that ...
/.../albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 3 what the perfection.htm

Homeland (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Homeland (8 Occurrences). ... (See NIV). Psalms 79:7 For
they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland. (WEB NIV). ...
/h/homeland.htm - 8k

Home-born (14 Occurrences)
Home-born. Homeborn, Home-born. Homeland . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
HOME-BORN. ... (ASV DBY JPS). Homeborn, Home-born. Homeland . Reference Bible.
/h/home-born.htm - 11k

Homeless (6 Occurrences)

/h/homeless.htm - 8k

Devoured (81 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV). Psalms 79:7 For they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed
his homeland. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/devoured.htm - 32k

Elamarna
... The Babylonian inscriptions show that Abraham was a part of an emigration movement
from the homeland to a frontier province, having the same laws and much of ...
/e/elamarna.htm - 31k

Tablets (31 Occurrences)
... The Babylonian inscriptions show that Abraham was a part of an emigration movement
from the homeland to a frontier province, having the same laws and much of ...
/t/tablets.htm - 41k

El-amarna
... The Babylonian inscriptions show that Abraham was a part of an emigration movement
from the homeland to a frontier province, having the same laws and much of ...
/e/el-amarna.htm - 31k

Tell (3056 Occurrences)
... The Babylonian inscriptions show that Abraham was a part of an emigration movement
from the homeland to a frontier province, having the same laws and much of ...
/t/tell.htm - 33k

Asmoneans
... Returning to the homeland, the former, like his son, fought a brief and valiant
but fruitless campaign and was returned captive to Rome, where he died by poison ...
/a/asmoneans.htm - 27k

Nineveh (23 Occurrences)
... and below the city he laid out plantations, wherein all the sweet-smelling herbs
of Heth (Palestine and Phoenicia) grew, fruitful beyond those of their homeland...
/n/nineveh.htm - 52k

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Homeland: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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