portion of the land promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:17, 18, but Solomon's suzerainty extended much further

eastwards. The prophecies concerning the land constantly affirm that Israel will inhabit all of it, not just a small

portion like Canaan. In no sense then can either the conditions in Joshua's day or in Solomon's fulfil the original

promise given by God to Abraham. This looks forward to the future and can only be completely fulfilled at the

second Advent of Christ.

Isaiah 19:23-25 is a remarkable prophecy:

`In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the

Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with

Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying,

Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance'.

This has never been fulfilled in past history. The area covered is the larger portion of land delineated in Genesis 15

and therefore it will be at this time that God will have fulfilled to the letter His gracious promise to Abraham

concerning a home for his seed for ever. In the light of contemporary happenings in the Middle East this prophetic

foreview is more than interesting. It is stupendous and proves that we are dealing with a God Whose word will not

return to Him void, but most certainly will accomplish that which He pleases and prosper in the thing concerning

which He sends it (Isa. 55:11).

It is important to grasp the fact that God's covenant with Israel respecting the land is one of grace and does not

depend upon the faithfulness or obedience of the nation. In Deuteronomy 30:1-9 we have an amplification of this

covenant as it relates to Canaan. In his foreknowledge, God knew that in the history of this people there would be

sin and backsliding for which He would have to discipline them. In spite of this, His unconditional covenant would

`And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set

before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day,

thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then the LORD thy God will turn thy

captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD

thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the

LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee: and the LORD thy God will bring thee into the

land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it ... and the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart,

and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest

live. And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thy enemies ... And thou shalt return and obey the

voice of the LORD, and do all His commandments which I command thee this day. And the LORD thy God will

make thee plenteous ... for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good'.

Portions of the covenant have already been fulfilled literally. Israel has experienced various dispersions in judgment

for their disobedience but also restorations, yet this remarkable prophecy looks to the second Advent of Christ for its

complete fulfilment which likewise will be literal. The Lord will certainly come (verses 3-6) and Israel will look on

Him Whom they pierced (Zech. 12:9-11) and be converted as a nation (Rom. 11:26,27). They will be restored to

their land from the four quarters of the earth and their enemies will be judged. There is only one conditional

element, but this only relates to the time of its complete fulfilment, `when ... then' (verses 1-3). This depends upon

the salvation and conversion of the nation which is dealt with in Romans 11 assuring that `the gifts and calling of

God are without repentance (change of mind on His part, verse 29). This was also the expectation of the Old

Testament prophets who enlarge upon this great theme and we shall deal with it later on.

We have seen that all the Scriptural covenants, with the exception of the early covenant with Noah and the whole

human race, belong to Israel (Rom. 9:3-5). Having considered the one relating to the seed and the land, the next in

importance is the Davidic covenant relating to the throne. This is an expansion of the divine promise concerning the

`And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which

shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom' (2 Sam. 7:12).