Possess the Land

Moses overlooking the Promised Land

Some of the social causes Americans stand for have gotten ridiculous. Last Sunday at a festival in New Orleans, R&B singer Jill Scott sang “The Star Spangled Banner” but altered the words claiming black people are oppressed and “blood built this land.” Those remarks come from a woman with a net worth of $12 million. It’s true blood built this land. Countless U. S. soldiers shed theirs so one could be free to desecrate our National Anthem by singing misguided lyrics.

I’ve already boycotted Ben & Jerry’s ice cream because their founders promote ungodly causes like abortion and same-sex marriage. This past Fourth of July, the Vermont-based company posted a tweet suggesting it was “high time we recognize that the U.S. exists on stolen Indigenous land and commit to returning it.” Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield better be ready to put their money where their mouths are. One Native American leader wants them to return the land their company headquarters possesses.


There’s a difference between stolen land and conquered land. While it’s unfortunate the United States government has broken treaties and forced Native Americans from selected territories, this country also expanded through land purchases and wars. When a nation attacks another and loses, the victor gets the spoil. Before European settlers arrived in North America, tribes went to war against each other for territory. 


Despite being Jewish, Ben & Jerry have boycotted Israel for their “occupied territories.” Joshua 1:4 details the boundaries of land God set aside for His chosen people; “From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.” Nevertheless, Israeli leaders have offered land in exchange for peace. But history has shown appeasement never works with terrorists. Adolf Hitler acquired lebensraum (“living space”) through dishonored agreements and eventually went to war and caused the deaths of millions.


God has a promised land He wants you to possess. However, you don’t need to resort to illegal means like squatting. Just be obedient to His direction, and He will bring supernatural increase to you.


“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” - Proverbs 13:22

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