Deuteronomy 6:3 - “Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do [these commands], that is may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.”
This verse that comes before the famous “shema” passage of the Jewish people also begins with “shema” (the Hebrew word for “hear”). And here we find mention of “the Promised Land”, even though the exact phrase never appears in the Old Testament we understand this land that God had promised Abraham as the promised land.
Under the Old Testament covenant of God, this was one of the promises God made to Abraham and his descendants - they would inherit actual real estate as part of the promise. And his family would prosper there. The land would flow with milk and honey. Milk may refer to prosperous and numerous live stock (ie giving milk) and honey may refer to the syrupy goodness of dates this climate is famous for. Either way, the people would have a place and be provided for.
This is the hope for our day. We too wait for an inheritance where we belong and have peace. But our Promised Land is better, by far than land - it speaks to an eternal place in God’s presence. This eternal place will flow with living water and bear fruit from the tree of life. Like Abraham we long for this place and like Joshua we will eventually get there.
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