The reader should notice that the Divine promise concerning the seed and the land is not conditional in any way,

the word `if' is nowhere used. In fact, so that Abraham should not have part or lot personally in this phase of the

plan, he is put to sleep (verse 12). Human failure may postpone the earthly purpose of God, but it cannot frustrate it,

for God has not made it conditional upon human responsibility in its final working out.

Now there is a system of Scriptural interpretation which denies that the Jewish race - Abraham's seed - are to be

used as a means of blessing to the whole world. According to this idea the Jews have been tested and failed, with

the consequence that God is now going to carry out this purpose through the Church. Others say that Christ is the

seed of Abraham, and these promises have been fulfilled in and through Him personally. In either case we may ask

where does the gift of the land come in? Is the church to inherit the promised land of Genesis 15?

The geographical boundaries are stated in Genesis 15:18 as being `from the river of Egypt unto the great river,

the river Euphrates'. This forbids spiritualising, a literal piece of land is obviously referred to and if the land is

literal, the seed of Abraham must be literal too, for the Scriptures always connect the two together. Let us see this.

In Genesis 26:3,4 God repeats to Isaac the promise made to Abraham .

`Sojourn in this land ... for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries ... and in thy seed shall all

the nations of the earth be blessed'.

And later it is repeated to Jacob.

`I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give

it, and to thy seed ... and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed' (Gen. 28:13,14).

We may be quite sure then that in the book of Genesis we have the purpose of God revealed, which is nothing

less than to bless the whole world through the Jewish nation and these are given the promised land as a free gift

from Him. It is described again and again as a `good land', a land `flowing with milk and honey', which is as we

should expect if God is the Giver.

The Old Testament is the record of the Lord's patience and longsuffering in preparing Israel for the role they

were to play in being His agents for world blessing. Then in the fulness of time, God sent the One Who was to be

their Saviour and King, and without Him this plan would have been impossible of fulfilment. The question of the

wise men was `Where is He that is born King of the Jews?' (Matt. 2:2), and of Bethlehem it was prophesied `... out

of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel' (Matt. 2:6). The angel had told Mary:

`The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; And He shall reign over the house of Jacob

for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end' (Luke 1:32,33).

He came therefore to Israel, and as far as His earthly ministry was concerned, He limited Himself to that nation

for He Himself said `I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Matt. 15:24), and Paul in Romans

9:3-5 states `My kinsmen according to the flesh (Israel) ... of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came ...'. Not

only did He restrict His ministry to that favoured people, but He limited the twelve disciples likewise, `Go not into

the way of the Gentiles ... But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Matt. 10:5,6).

To Israel He came as Prophet (Matt. 12:41), Priest (Matt. 12:6) and King (Matt. 12:42), but they, although

intended to be the channel for world blessing, were choked with unbelief and rejected Him in these three Divine

capacities. When He rode into Jerusalem on the colt, Zechariah 9:9 was fulfilled, `Behold, thy King cometh unto

thee' (Matt. 21:5), but the reply of the nation was `We will not have this man to reign over us' (Luke 19:14). They

crucified their Saviour and King, and the title that was put over the cross, although done in mockery, was

nevertheless true:

`This is Jesus the King of the Jews' (Matt. 27:37).