The idea of land, and its spiritual significance is truly overlooked. In Deuteronomy 8-9, the author speaks over and over again about the great land that the Israelites are soon to inherit. This land is beautifully depicted in 8:7-9:
"A land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lakc nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out the hills."
This is the land God is giving his people. But, the author reminds us later in 9:6:
"Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people."
The land is very important obviously for the Israelites because it is the physical expression of God's grace. In many cultures in our world today, the land also holds this kind of spiritual connection. African and First Nations peoples particularly hold a very close connection to their land in a deep and spiritual way, unlike us Westerners do. But in a globalized, and intercultural world, this idea of land is becoming harder and harder to understand for everyone. So what is the land for us today?
Christ is our beautiful inheritance today. The physical expression of God's grace is seen never more clearly than in Christ crucified. He is our land flowing with water, and full of tasty food, and beautiful scenery. He is where we live; who we live in.
"I pray that you (and I)...may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love that surpasses knowledge."
God, I admit my understanding of your love is nothing. Show me more of this love, to have an understand beyond simply knowledge. Help me to grasp it in the depths of my life, that all I do will flow from this inheritance of love. Amen.
