Promises and the Land of Canaan

Scripture: Concerning Edom:
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
"Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?
Has counsel perished from the prudent?
Has their wisdom decayed?
Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,
you who live in Dedan,
for I will bring disaster on Esau
at the time when I punish him."
Jeremiah 49:7-8

Observation: Jeremiah's writings conclude with pronouncements about neighboring people (though these prophesies were likely pronounced earlier). He has already covered several including the Ammon and Moab, and now addresses Edom. Like Judah, they will all have the same fate of being completely destroyed by Babylon. However, unlike the Jews, there is no return for them ... there is no return from exile ... this is the end of the line for these nations and people-groups, and their time in history is now ended.

Application: I have written of this before, that one of the amazing facts that re-enforces the Jews as a special people is that they have returned, remained, and been sustained as a nation and people for over 4,000 years, even during times when their nation was defeated. When neighboring nations were permanently erased - and to this day any claim that someone is descended from them is based purely on speculation - only Jews still exist.

Ammon, Moab, and Edom are most notable, as they were nations also related to Abraham. Ammon and Moab are descended from Lot, and Edom from Esau, and despite their small size, definite weakness, and problematic geography, they too have existed now for centuries. However, they often opposed Israel and even celebrated Israel's and Judah's downfall, and they are not the people who carry the covenant promise of Abraham.

Again, I've considered this before. However, today I am touched by one other fact. Several times, the Lord told Abraham that his promised land would extend not from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River, but from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates River. Israel never occupied all that land ... but the combination of these four nations did! More accurately, during the reign of Solomon, from the eastern boarders for Moab, Ammon, Edom, and the trans-Jordan tribes of Israel, to the Euphrates, there were no nations, only nomadic tribes.

Even as these nations are about to be erased from history, there is a reminder that - while they were never part of the chosen people of God - they did worship the Lord and were part of the Abrahamic promise when it came to the land of Canaan.

Prayer: Lord, as I ponder something that just seems like facts or lines on an ancient map, I thank you for reminding me of this one truth, which is that all your promises are always fulfilled. I do claim your promises is my life, especially the promise of salvation and eternal life, secured by my faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.