When God brought the dry land into existence, He bade it bring forth grass, and herb yielding seed, and fruit trees yielding fruit. The earth was the one green spot surrounded by the Seas. The one spot where food for the sustenance of man was springing up.
This is typical of the part that Israel had to play for God in this world. Where was there any spiritual light in this world save in the land of Israel? The surrounding nations were sunk in all the depravity of heathendom. Israel alone had the knowledge of God. The question is asked, "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God " (Rom. 3:1). The light of God in Old Testament times was centered in the Land of Israel. There was the Temple at Jerusalem, where God dwelt between the cherubim in the holiest of all, till the idolatry of the Israelites drove His Presence away (Ezek. 9:3; 10:4; 11:22). Every known writer of the Books of the Old Testament, with the possible exception of the Book of Job, were Israelites. In the Old Testament we read of many saints of God connected with Israel. We read too of even Gentiles coming into blessing through contact with Israel. Our Lord said when here on earth, " Salvation is of the Jews " (John 4:22).