THE HOLY LAND

There is a Latin term: terra sancta … the Holy Land. Terra means: soil. Sancta: saint or holy. The Holy Land is a major theme in the Bible.

The Holy Land stretches from Egypt to Syria.
The term Holy Land encompasses the places in the Middle East that are mentioned in the Old and New Testaments. It includes: Israel and Palestine (which hold most of the sites sacred to Jews and Christians). Western Jordan (where Moses glimpsed the Promised Land and Christ was baptized.) The Sinai Peninsula in Egypt (where Moses and the Israelites wandered for 40 years)
Southern Syria (where Elijah took refuge and St Paul was converted)

This is the land described by God in Exodus 3:8 as “flowing with milk and honey” (that would have been sheep or goat milk and date honey).

When the Lord confronted Moses: “God called to him from the midst of the burning bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Book of Exodus 3)

The issue is two things: The Place. The physical Israel and Palestine. The Person: The presence of the Lord. “Take off your shoes…“is respect for the Person…not the place. I believe this is still the issue. Since the Cross-and the finished work of Christ…all land is holy, all people are holy; all presence is holy if Jesus is present by the Holy Spirit. I think Southern Idaho, Southern Oklahoma, Southern Indiana, Southern France, Southern Cuba and Southern Modesto are as holy as the Holy Land. Jesus is Lord…not land.

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!” Jesus