I have counted, and the word “land” occurs 19 times in Leviticus chapter 25. Once every 3 verses, on average!

Then in Leviticus chapter 26 … 23 more times, the noun “land!”

What’s more, God gave these upcoming “laws” about the “land” … while Moses was still on Mount Sinai!

Leviticus 25:1 … “And the LORD spake unto Moses IN MOUNT SINAI, saying ….” Then follow 54 more verses about the “land,” properly treating it under God’s Authority!

After all, He (the Lord) made the land (Genesis 1:1), and certainly knows how it is designed to optimally function!

The thing that strikes me this morning is the very fact that God is so sure Israel is going to arrive and dwell in the “land,” that He is already legislating behavior in that “land!” For that “land,” for the very “ground” itself!

And Israel could have been occupants of that “land” much sooner, had she trusted God!

In only eleven short days, to be exact! “There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb (Sinai) by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.” Deuteronomy 1:2

But Israel (through doubt, through disobedience) managed to stretch that brief time into forty long years!

Still … God knew they were going to arrive some day!

My point here … God’s Laws can (at least at times) be viewed as “assurances!” As virtual “guarantees!” As “commitments” on His Part to do what He has commanded, in the very location He has specified!

You can’t let the land “rest,” unless you are living on that land, unless you own that land!

Back to Leviticus 25:1-4 … “And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.”

Let the land rest one year of every seven!

The acreage you own gets a “Sabbath” too!

Wow!

Let me give a New Testament illustration of the principle I am here trying to show you.

In Luke 8:22 we read: “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he (Jesus) went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, LET US GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE of the lake. And they launched forth.” 

This is a command (as was “Let the land rest” in Leviticus 25), a mandate from God! That is … “Disciples, launch the boat, the ship!” We’re going (now a promise) to the “other side” of the lake, Sea of Galilee.

But then a storm arose! And the crew (Disciples) panicked! “But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.” Verses 23-24

They were fearful … even though Jesus had just told them, “We’re going to the other side!” He, our Lord, meant that Statement to be not only a command (“Prepare the ship”) … but also a promise. We shall arrive over there! Let US go!

In like manner God’s Laws about the land … long before Israel ever set foot on that land … were promises that one day (in this case not 11 days but 40 years) they would conquer and indwell Canaan!

And they did!

Old Alexander Maclaren used to preach, “God’s Commandments are also God’s enablements!”

Indeed!

Tomorrow we shall look in greater detail at the first seven verse of Leviticus 25, that “land.” That Promised Land!

Come to think of it … that Land Israel now possesses again!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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