The Golan Heights, The Bible and Donald Trump

What is the big deal about the United States under Trump recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel?  The Golan Heights as a possession of Israel stretches back to the time of Moses about 3500-years ago. Israel on its route to take the “Promised Land” from the Canaanites, first took possession of the lands on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Before Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land, Moses conquered the land and the tribes of Manasseh, Gad and Reuben took possession, during Moses lifetime.  The land of the Golan Heights was given to the “Half Tribe of Manasseh” the other half took possession of land on the other side of the Jordan.

The Background of the conquest of the Golan Heights.

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Moses led the children of Israel and Og the king of Bashan refused to allow Israel access to his lands, he attacked them and Israel responded by conquering the lands of Bashan. Scripture tells us God gave the land of Bashan to Israel.  God is the one who dispossessed the land from the inhabitants and gave the land to the descendants of Jacob (Israel). Its a hard concept to understand if you reject the existence of God, but If God exists and the Bible is His WORD, and He created the Universe, He has the right to give His land to whoever He chooses. One of the reasons Bible Prophecy exists is God is demonstrating to a skeptical world that His WORD is true, regardless what we think.  Numbers 21 records this event regarding Og king of Bashan (Golan Heights)

Numbers 21:33-35  (33)  Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.(34)  But the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon."(35)  So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

 

The city of Golan, where the name Golan Heights comes, was appointed as a city of refuge, it was later destroyed during the time of Alexander the Great, but the name of the city was connected to the land. Another term to the land is the “Oaks of Bashan” (Isaiah 2:13).

Deuteronomy 4:43-44  (43)  Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.(44)  This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel.

Some may find it harsh, that God removes inhabitants of the land such as the people of Bashan, but God used the nation of Israel as judgment against the pagan practices and of the land of Canaan. God also promised if Israel did the same, they would be removed from the land. This happened in 722 BC when the Assyrians took Israel captive to the land of Assyria and 587 BC when the Babylonians took Judah captive to Babylon. Jerusalem was destroyed by the armies of Babylon.

The Promise of Restoration

Despite the judgments God has always promised to restore the land to the descendants of Israel who would come back into the land.  In 1948, When Israel became a nation again, Bible prophecy was fulfilled. From 1948, to the present the territory of Israel has expanded at the expense of their neighbors. Regardless of how people feel about the justice of the experience, we are watching prophecy being fulfilled.

Ezekiel 36:1-10

(1)  "And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. (2)  Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you, 'Aha!' and, 'The ancient heights have become our possession,'  (7)  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I swear that the nations that are all around you shall themselves suffer reproach. (8)  "But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home. (9)  For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. (10)  And I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt.

 Trump recognizing the Golan

Many times people fulfilling Bible Prophecy don’t know they are doing while it is happening. It is funny even Jews living in Israel don’t see themselves as the fulfillment of what the prophets foretold thousands of years ago.  God’s WORD is surer than the Sun, Moon and stars (Jeremiah 31:36).  Donald Trump’s statement about the Golan Heights unknowingly fulfills what the Bible will tell what will happen. Israel will be gathered from the nations and brought back to their “Land” and there is nothing the world can do about it. God owns the world and He can give land to anyone or nation He chooses, it is His possession.

Jeremiah 30:1-24

(1)  The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

(2)  "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.

(3)  For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it."

 (10)  "Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.

(18)  "Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be.

(19)  Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate? I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.