About the Good Land Deut. 8:7-10
IF we were going to a new country to live, we would like to hear all about it. The people of Israel were going to live in Canaan, and only two of them, Joshua and Caleb, had ever seen it, so God told Moses to tell them of it.
He said there would be many brooks, springs, and fountains of water, and gentle rains. These, they had not had freely in the wilderness, nor in Egypt, where the land was watered only when the River Nile overflowed its banks once a year, when it would be very muddy and afterward very dry.
There would be good pastures for their cattle and sheep; fields of grain; fruit trees; vines; olive trees; honey; plenty for all to eat. In the hills they would find minerals to make tools or other needed articles.
There would be one certain place in the land, which God would choose, where all should take their sacrifices and worship. Him, and that later became a much-loved place. Deut. 12:11, 12.
God said the borders of the land should be Lebanon and the River Euphrates on the north; the plains of Jordan on the east; the great sea (The Mediterranean) on the west; Deut. 11:21. You can find those names on a map of Canaan, (or Palestine).
But God also told the people that many strong people were then living in this land, even giants with high walled cities. How could Israel have their country? Because those people had become so dreadfully wicked they must be destroyed. They had all once known God as the Creator of the earth, but instead of honoring Him, worshiped images of every sort, even burning children in sacrifices, and lived in wickedness in all ways. (Deut. 9:5). And as you study world history you will learn many nations since, have lost their places by such wickedness.
God said Israel should not fear those people, that He would help them, but they must not keep their idols, or else they too, would be driven out. (Deut. 29:63).
We can remember this: the Lord always cares for that land. “The eyes of the Lord are always upon it, from the beginning of the year, even unto the end of the year.” Deut. 11:12.
ML 12/19/1937