Today's news reports that Pat Robertson recently preached the following regarding Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon:
Now, Ariel Sharon who is, again, a very likeable person, a delightful person to be with, and I prayed with him personally, but here he's at the point of death. He was dividing God's land. And I would say, "Woe unto any Prime Minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the E.U., the United Nations or the United States of America." God says, "This land belongs to me, you better leave it alone."
Robertson is incorrect. First of all, it is not just the State of Israel that is God's "land," but all the Earth (Leviticus 25:23; Exodus 19:5).
Secondly, the issue of dividing God's "land" is not about literally carving up Israel, but about serving idolatry (selfishness) over His Selfless Spirit. When the faithful and true Israelites first entered the land of Canaan, He instructed them to divide the land among their tribes (Numbers 34:29; Joshua 13:6, 14:5, 18:10). This division of land was not to involve the selling of the land (Leviticus 25:23), meaning that no one should ever be heard to say, "The land within this fence is mine." No. It is God's land, as is the entirety of Earth. Ownership tempts idolatry (selfishness), breeding separation, which is a denial of Oneness in God's Selfless Spirit.
Let's examine this a little more deeply. Remember, God divides souls into two categories: Jews and Gentiles. Romans 2:25-29 reveals that a "Jew" is not defined by one's ancestry or religious membership, but by one's devotion to God's Spirit. A "Gentile" is not defined by one's ancestry or lack of religious membership, but by one's lack of devotion to God's Spirit.
The "land" of the Jews, when interpreted literally, by the Letter of the Law, clearly refers to the land of Canaan... a worldly interpretation. But we must remember that Jesus instructs us to overcome the world with the Spirit and, so too must we overcome the worldly interpretation of scriptures with the spiritual interpretation. In other words, we are to interpret by the Spirit of the Law, not the Letter of the Law. The Spirit of the Law reigns supreme, as it fulfills and supersedes the Letter of the Law.
When interpreted by the Spirit of the Law, the "land" of the Jews is the Estate of God's Spirit. We are to live in God's "land," meaning that we are to personify His Way of Selfless Love and Goodness, no matter where we physically reside upon planet Earth.
As far as God not wanting the followers of His Way (the truest definition of "Jews") to sell His land... this is, once again, not to be interpreted by the Letter of the Law, but by the Spirit of the Law. God knew that we humans would divide up His Earth and claim ownership over our own "pieces" of land. It is not the literal buying and selling of land that is offensive to God, but rather our hearts and motivations in these matters. How do we receive the blessing of land ownership? Do we "corrupt" the land, possessing it selfishly (our hearts movtivated by greed, power, control, status, etc.) or do we "Glorify" the land, possessing it with the Spirit of God (our hearts motivated by charity, love, humility, thankfulness, etc.)?
We are creatures of the mind. Life is not about ownership of worldly things, but "ownership" of those things born of God's Selfless, Good Spirit. If it is your heart's desire to cleave unto God, then you must sow His Spirit, or personify Selfless Love, treading The Way Jesus tread. God is not mocked, for as you sow, so shall you reap.
Spiritually speaking, those who "divide" the land of God are those who live in spiritual duality. Per Jesus, these are the "lukewarm" Laodecians (lay-oh-dis-see-ans) in the Book of Revelation, referring to souls who are neither "hot" (true and faithful to God's Spirit) nor "cold" (unregenerately devoted to the anti-Spirit), but rather an offensive mixture of devotion to both Spirit and anti-Spirit.
“Laodicea” means “common rights of the people.” Those who are "Laodiceans" are spiritually indifferent, having balanced their lives between the Spirit of God and THEIR demands for THEIR rights to live in a society wherein THEY can benefit from THEIR worldly pursuits of money, power, and politics. They readily cast judgments and spout selected scriptural quotes to justify their agendas of separatism, even damning those who do not follow their social and spiritual values. Though they may shout their belief in God, they are not aligned with His Selfless, Good Spirit.
See? Pat Robertson's got it bass-ackwards. It is Pat Roberston himself who divides God's "land" by denying the Selfless Spirit that knows no such judgments upon Ariel Sharon's work to bring peace to Israel. Robertson does not walk in Sharon's shoes and therefore does not know Sharon's heart and motivations, yet holds himself the mouthpiece of God's judgment against Sharon.
Be not deceived, for as we judge, so shall we be judged. As Robertson has judged Sharon for what he perceives as Sharon's "sins," so shall Robertson be likewise judged for his own.
