Thursday: The Land Restored
Daily Lesson for Thursday 27th of November 2025
Read Jeremiah 24:6; Jeremiah 31:16; Ezekiel 11:17; Ezekiel 28:25; and Ezekiel 37:14,25. What was the promise of God concerning the return of Israel to the Promised Land, and how was it fulfilled?
During the Babylonian exile, the Israelites experienced not only the sad reality of being rootless but also the promise that their relationship with God, though made concrete through the promise of the land, was not conditioned on, and limited to, possessing the land. When the Israelites confessed their sins, repented, and looked for the Lord with all their hearts, God fulfilled His promise again, and He brought them back to their land as a sign of their restoration. That is, He was still their God, even while they were not in the land.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
However, as the promise that Israel would possess the land forever was conditional (Deuteronomy 28:63-64; Joshua 23:13,15; 1 Kings 9:7; 2 Kings 17:23; Jeremiah 12:10-12), so was the promise to resettle and make Israel prosper in the land after the exile. At the same time, prophets of the Old Testament pointed to a restoration that a future Davidic king would bring (Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah 9:9,16). This promise was fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in whom all the promises to ancient Israel would have their fulfillment.
In the New Testament, the Promised Land is not mentioned directly, but we are told that the promises of God have been fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20, Romans 15:8). Thus, in the light of Christ, the land is reinterpreted, and it becomes the symbol of the spiritual blessings that God plans to give to His faithful people here and now (Ephesians 2:6) and in the hereafter.
The ultimate fulfillment of the divine promise of rest, abundance, and well-being in the land will take place on the new earth, liberated from sin and its consequences. In that sense, as Christians, our hope is based on Christ’s promise that He will return and, after a 1,000-year period in heaven, establish His eternal kingdom on the earth made new. This will be the ultimate fulfillment of all the promises about the land.
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Read John 14:1-3, Titus 2:13, and Revelation 21:1-3. What ultimate hope is found for us here in these verses, and why does the death of Jesus guarantee us the fulfillment of this hope? |
The lesson today points forward to the Babylonian captivity and the restoration after the captivity. Typically, we view the Babylonian captivity as the end of the kingdom period, and with it, the end of the Temple with the presence of the Ark. On their return from captivity, they occupied the land but were essentially vassal states paying tributes to foreign powers such as the Achaemenid Kindom, the various Greek kingdoms and ultimately Rome.
We should not underestimate the importance of the Babylonian experience, though. The Jews, both exiled and domestic, were faced with the challenge of keeping their spiritual life alive without the Temple and the visible presence of God, During this time, there was a transformation from Temple-centric religion to rabbinical-synagogue religion. Much of the Jewish Old Testament canon was formed at this time. That is not saying that Scriptures did not exist before then, but rather, when these scriptures were treated formally as the inspired word of God. It became important for each community to have its own copy of the scriptures and create forms of worship that did not involve the Temple.
We often look at how the rabbinical system evolved into a legalistic system of refining and developing the Law of God to the point of absurdity, as was evidenced in Christ’s time, but that was some 400-odd years later. At the time of the Babylonian exile, Jewish thinkers had the opportunity to think beyond mere land possession to understanding how to make the truth of God’s love available to all the world. In the humility of captivity, they had the opportunity to think beyond themselves.
If there is a lesson in this for Seventh-day Adventists today, maybe it is time for us to think less about ourselves and the vindication of our prophetic views, and more about how we can make the Kingdom of God relevant now. Do we need a radical “Babylonian captivity” in our Christian experience?
Jesus talks about the eternal “Kingdom of Heaven” – the replacement of earthly temporal kingdoms. Matthew mentions that expression over 30 times. It is worth reading what citizenship in that Kingdom really means.
It was God’s desire to restore Israel to the land He had promised to their forefathers. However, the key issue was not land, but their hearts.
• “I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them” (Ezek. 11:19).
• “I will remove the heart of stone…” (Ezek. 36:26).
• “Then you will live in the land… you will be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezek. 36:28).
External restoration is a manifestation of the internal first. The heart is the “land” God wants to reclaim first. As we pray for God to restore our physicals:
• Jobs
• Finances
• Relationships
• Health
• Situations
Let us first pray for God to restore our inside first, that is:
• Pride
• Disobedience
• Idolatry
• Hidden sin
• Unredeemed desires
True restoration begins when our heart returns to God, and every other blessing flows from that renewed relationship.
Amen
Nebuchadnezzar’s three attacks on Jerusalem especially the final one when he burned the city symbolize destruction and judgment. Then Jesus says the enemy comes “to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10), which aligns with spiritual attack and loss.
The sanctuary isn’t just a physical place in the Old Testament it’s a powerful picture of how we are spiritually restored and connected to God.
Each part of the sanctuary shows a step in the journey:
Bread (Word of God): Nourishing our spirit with God’s truth.
Altar & Lamb (Jesus’ sacrifice): The ultimate gift that makes forgiveness and healing possible.
Holy Spirit (cleansing water/baptism): Purifying our hearts and minds.
Ark with Ten Commandments: Guiding us in living a life that honors God.
Holy of Holies: The place of intimate fellowship with God.
So restoration means not only healing what was broken but also recommitting ourselves to this process of spiritual growth and closeness with God. It’s a continuous, active relationship always moving toward God’s presence.
Your way is in the sanctuary
There is hardly any Bible portion that is full of life as the movement and involvement of God in all human affairs; the story of restoration has valuable lessons with striking illustrations of how promptly and triumphantly our God can interpose with rulers, with kings, and any other powers on behalf of His own. The restoration was not just a physical return but also a spiritual return. The lessons on the law in Nehemiah 8 play a crucial role in the re-establishment of a renewed covenant relationship between God and the children of Israel.
Ezra illustrates how the public reading of God’s Law led to a national repentance and a renewed commitment focused on following God’s commandments (Nehemiah 9:1–3).The restoration story is a pivotal moment and milestone in the redemption story, a clear demonstration of God’s faithfulness and sovereignty. It sets the stage and lays a foundation for the coming of Christ. Just as God re-established His people in their land and maintained their unique identity, it is clear that God is able not only to redeem but also to restore His people from the depths of the exile of sin and despair.
This life is a preparation for a better one. Our best effort is to develop the relationship with the One Who turned Himself the lowest being of the Universe to become the King of it all: Jesus. Through this friendship, we may learn and consciously accept the necessary changes for the encounter at His return and for our final rescue.
The New Testament reveals that all of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). In Him, the ancient promise of the land is lifted to its fullest spiritual meaning—God’s desire to give His people rest, security, and a place with Him forever. While the physical land was central to Israel’s identity, in Christ we come to understand that our true inheritance is not tied to this present world but to the “heavenly places” where we are already seated with Him by faith (Eph. 2:6).
This reminds us that we are sojourners—pilgrims passing through a world that is not our final home. Like Abraham, we “look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). The promises of rest, abundance, and renewal will reach their ultimate fulfillment on the new earth, after Christ returns and establishes His everlasting kingdom.
Yet Scripture is clear: the inheritance is for the faithful. God invites us to walk in obedience, surrender, and holiness as we journey toward that better country. His grace enables us, but our response matters. We must heed His Word, trust His leading, and live as citizens of the kingdom we long to inherit.
As we await the restoration of all things, may we hold loosely to this world and firmly to God’s promises. We are strangers here—but heirs of a land that will never fade, a home prepared for all who love His appearing.
Omwenga, thank you for this powerful reminder that God’s greatest work of restoration begins in the heart. Your emphasis that the “land” God seeks to reclaim first is our inner life is both biblical and deeply needed. It is so easy to focus on the external—jobs, finances, health, relationships—yet Scripture consistently teaches that true renewal flows from a transformed heart.
Your use of the promises in Ezekiel beautifully highlights that God restores the land after He restores the people. A new spirit, a softened heart, and a renewed walk with Him must come before any lasting outward blessing. I appreciate how you call us to pray not only for changed circumstances, but for God to deal with the pride, disobedience, and hidden sins that hinder His work in us.
This perspective is both convicting and hopeful. When God reclaims the heart, everything else falls into place according to His will. Thank you for lifting our eyes to the deeper restoration God desires for His people.
My thoughts focus on the ‘practical’ aspects regarding the ‘Promised Land’ and the ‘Land restored’. Because man is made of the dust of the earth, he needs land to feed him. But he is also endowed with spirit capable to recognize himself as a created beeing made by a benevolent Creator – he is a living soul which needs both to live.
By calling Abram, God started his spiritual journey to make Himself known and accepted by him as the Supreme God. By promising Abram the land of his sojourn, God secured the means for his posterity to feed themselves, enjoying prosperity and peace whiles they learned to accept and worship the God of their ancestors.
I suggest to consider the Promised land to offer a two-fold blessing – offering peace for providing means for their physical needs, as well as the place to provide the spiritual food needed to open their eyes and hearts for learning to truly love and worship Yahweh – the God of their ancestors.
Over time, much material wealth was gained and lost, but mankind’s spiritual growth continues – the time is not yet full. Many come to dwell in the ‘Promised Land’, getting to know the ‘God of Israel’, believing Him and follow ‘His Way’.
We want to love Him, not for what He has done for us, but for WHO HE IS, always welcoming and unchangable in plenty and in want – Phil.4:12-13.
The ultimate hope promised to us as Christians is salvation. However, salvation comes with responsibility and to acquire it in the physical world as a Christian, one must be brave enough to overcome temptations and tribulations. Jesus Christ speaks of the tribulations and temptations that faithful Christians may go through because of Him, and how if they endure the suffering to the end they may be saved. Matthew chapter 24: 5 to 14.
The death of Jesus Christ guarantees us a fulfillment of hope because He went through tribulations and overcame them while fulfilling the words of the prophets. His resurrection makes Him immortal, and that aspect of the fact, gives us hope to be immortal if we share His suffering with faith. In other words, whoever is able to endure suffering as a Christian to the end may be saved. The task for us as Christians is to perceive tribulations as a test to solve. I for one believe that salvation comes with responsibilities, and one must always be watchful of what might take one for granted in the pursuit of determining to overcome tribulations
Reflecting on today’s lesson, I’m left to wonder if land was just a means to drive Israel towards what was really important – a relationship with God. And perhaps because they focused so much on land, they missed what God really wanted to give them.
No question, God gave Israel land as an inheritance, though I do feel this was as much for mission as anything else. Canaan was at the crossroads of the known world and it was important that there was a territory for Jesus to be born into that Gentiles could be drawn to.
However, land seems to be less important in the Christian era. After Jesus returned to Heaven I don’t sense any of the 12 disciples or Paul bemoaning the fact that Israel lacked land. This would have been important for the disciples prior to the cross, but understanding what Jesus did for the world would put everything in perspective. Suddenly being in a life-saving relationship with God was really the most important thing.
And the same is true for us today. If we just want to go to Heaven because of the mansions and amazing things that will be there, we’ve missed the point. Heaven and the new Earth will have many amazing things, but the true prize is being with God forever. That’s probably why many people won’t be in Heaven – it would be utter boredom to them to just live praising God and being connected to Him.