Ship of the West

The intent of the Amorite kings and his subjects was to annihilate the People of Israel. Israel had no other option than to defend itself. And with the help of the God of Israel, the Amorites were defeated. Not only were they defeated, the Amorites were dispossessed from their land and it sat empty.This event occurred as a direct fulfillment of the Covenant made with Abraham. “In the fourth generation (Moses was the only known survivor of the fourth generation) your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure." (Genesis 15:16) The sin of the Amorite was in-hospitality and hostility towards the righteous seed of Abraham. And those who cursed his righteous seed were to receive a curse as proclaimed in the Covenant. 

 

The aggressive action taken by the Amorites did nothing but cause Israel’s territory grow beyond its assigned border. “The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands…were suitable for livestock. So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said…“If we have found favor in your eyes," they said, "let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan." (Numbers 32:1-5)

 

But allowing the tribes settle in the land of the Amorites lends to the idea that the Covenant was somehow altered to accommodate temporal desires. Again this is due to our shortsighted understanding of the far reaching effects of the everlasting covenant between Abraham and YHWH. The dispossession of the Amorites was just a small taste of what is coming in the End of Days. The inhospitable spirit displayed by the Amorites will be re-enacted by all nations when the time comes that no man can buy or sell unless they submit to the beast. When the nations take aggressive actions against the “Holy People” (the righteous seed of Abraham) these nations will be dispossessed and the community of Israel will inhabit their lands. “You will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities” (Isaiah 54:3).

 

Many have been under the idea that in order for the children of Israel to live fully according to the Law of Moses, they would need to return to the land of Israel. But according to the covenant, this is not the case. Take note that before the land west of the Jordan was acquired by Israel, the land east of the Jordan had already been settled by two tribes who were living according to the Mosaic code. Here, in a land that was not assigned to Israel, “Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan, to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if he had unintentionally killed his neighbor without malice aforethought. He could flee into one of these cities and save his life”. (Deuteronomy 4:40-42) 

 

These cities belonged to the Levites and operated in a territory officially located outside the land of Israel. Within this territory they setup law courts. The tithing system was implemented and sacrifices in behalf of the common citizens were conducted. So when the time comes that the nations are subdued before His people again, expect that the systems the world lives under to be replaced by the standards specified within the Mosaic code.

 

But what about the land promise that states that the land of Canaan will become the habitation of the seed of Abraham? Was this promise forgotten? The answer is absolutely not. Ezekiel chapter 49:1-31 provides a prophetic description of the land of Israel after the completion of the Millennial reign. Each of the tribes will border the west side of the Jordan River as stated in the Covenant made with Abraham. But Israel will not be gathered back to the Land of Canaan until they have completed the dispossession of all nations who are hostile to the Mosaic code. 

Are you preparing for fulfillment of the everlasting Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Will you be hostile to the righteous seed of Abraham should they pass through your land in your lifetime? Will you be in willing and in loyal compliance to each of the laws of Moses should the government which you currently live under changes hands? “Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God. The LORD your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess.” (Deuteronomy 12:28-29)