Many people are familiar with the term, Promised Land. However, many do not understand it to be a proper name of an actual place. Instead, they understand it as a place that appeals greatly to someone. For example, some might say that Nashville is the Promised Land for those who love country music. Others might say that Hollywood or New York is the Promised Land for actors. However, to understand what is the true meaning of the Promised Land, we need a study of the Bible.
What is the common definition of the Promised Land?
The name Promised Land is commonly defined as (1): “(in the Bible) the land of Canaan, which was promised to Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 12:7)”; “a place or situation in which someone expects to find great happiness.” The name “Promised Land” began to be used in the English language around the end of the 1700s and has increased substantially until today (2).
What does the Bible say about the Promised Land?
The first reference to what would be named the Promised Land is found in Genesis 12 after God called Abram, later known as Abraham, out of his homeland of the Ur of the Chaldees (Genesis 11:24-12:8). The Ur of the Chaldees was an area in Babylon inhabited by people who were not of any significance that worshiped various Gods located in modern day Iraq. However, God called Abram and his immediate family for no apparent reason other than to show them mercy and bless them (Deuteronomy 7:6-11; Peter 2:9-10).
God’s Promise to Abram
When God called Abram, He made promises to Abram that He would show him a land where he could go and establish a great nation. He added that He would make Abram’s name great, bless him, bless those that bless Abram and curse those who curse Abram, and bring it to pass that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him. This is commonly known as the Abrahamic Covenant. This covenant is historically why many people today support the Jewish people and Israel in some cases.
Upon hearing this promise, Abram left his homeland and traveled west and south until he reached Canaan, which was located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea southward into modern day Israel. When Abram arrived there he built an altar to worship the Lord. Abram settled there and not long after, God once again spoke to Abram concerning the fact that he and his wife Sarai, later known as Sarah, could not have a child (Genesis 15). God promised Abram that He would provide a son through Sarai. Abram believed God and God accounted Abram’s belief to him as righteousness. However, God also told Abram that not only would he inherit the land, but He told Abram He would give the land to Abram’s descendants. Finally, He described the boundaries of the land as follows:
“In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” Genesis 15:18
This description describes an extensive piece of land from the Nile River to the Euphrates River in Iraq. The boundaries were also described by God in Joshua 1:4 as extending from Lebanon to the Nile River and the Red Sea and eastward to the Euphrates River. When comparing the land that Israel occupies today, to what God had promised, the land today only makes up a small part of the Promised Land. However, God also promised that He would restore the land to them in the last days (Psalms 105:1-11; Jeremiah 16:5-17:1; Zechariah 14; Acts 1:6-7; Romans 11).
God’s Promise to Other Believers
Finally, while the Promised Land was an inheritance for the descendants of Abraham, by faith, those that have trusted Christ as their Savior are born again as a child of both God and Abraham and they become heirs of the promises made to Abraham (Galatians 3:1-9, 19-29; Hebrews 11:8-19). However, the land will not be the ultimate inheritance. God will make all things new one day and all who have believed what God said about His Son will receive that inheritance that never fades away (Ephesians 1:1-14; Hebrews 11:15; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 5:9-13; Revelation 21-22).
Conclusion
The Promised Land is commonly defined as the land Promised to Abraham in the Bible and a place that appeals greatly to someone. The Bible describes the Promised Land as land that was promised to Abraham and his descendants. By faith, all believers become children of God and Abraham and are made inheritors of the promises made to Abraham. The nation of Israel today occupies only a small part of the original Promised Land. God will restore the Promised Land when He returns to set up His kingdom until such time as He creates a new Heaven and new earth.
Read more here: What is the Abrahamic Covenant?
Resources – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version. (1) Google. (2015). “Promised Land”. Retrieved from Google, https: // www . google. com/?gws_rd=ssl&rct=j#q=Promised+Land+definition. (2) Google. (2015). “Promised Land”. Retrieved from Google Books Ngram Viewer, https :// books .google . com/ngrams/graph?content=Promised+Land&year_start=1500&year_end=2015&corpus=0&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B% 2CPromised%20Land%3B%2Cc0
Welcome to What Christians Want To Know! The mission of this site is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians. Look for regular updates including Bible Verses, Bible Stories, Christian Quotes, Christian Answers, and much more. Find out 
