By Ephraim Agbo
You’ve probably heard a thousand opinions about Israel — the conflicts, the history, the politics. But let’s take a step back. Before we get to all that, let’s ask something more basic, more human:
Why this land? Why not somewhere else?
Why not go back to Ur, where it all started?
And why does a promise made thousands of years ago still matter today in our world of UN charters and international law?
Let’s unpack this, simply and honestly.
🧭 The Journey Starts in Ur — Southern Iraq Today
Long before Egypt, long before modern Israel, the story begins in Ur of the Chaldeans — an ancient city in southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. That’s where Abraham, the founding patriarch of the Israelites, was from.
Now, Abraham didn’t just decide to go explore new land. According to the Hebrew Bible, he was called. God told him:
“Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” — Genesis 12:1
That land was Canaan — not Ur, not Egypt — but a new, promised place.
Abraham obeyed. He traveled through Haran (now on the Turkey–Syria border), and eventually settled in Canaan, which covers parts of modern Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.
So when people ask, “Why didn’t the Israelites just go back to Ur?” — the answer is simple: Ur was never the destination. It was the beginning.
🕊️ Canaan: The Promised Land
In ancient times, spiritual directions weren’t abstract. They were real — and in many societies, they carried more weight than politics. People believed that divine instructions shaped destiny. In fact, in ancient Israel, prophets were as important as kings — sometimes more.
Abraham’s call to leave Ur wasn’t just personal. It kicked off a journey that would define an entire people.
His son Isaac and grandson Jacob (later renamed Israel) also lived in Canaan. It became home — spiritually, historically, and physically. This is where they were buried, where they worshipped, and where their descendants would eventually return after a very long detour.
⛓️ From Canaan to Egypt… and Then Back Again
So what happened?
Famine hit the region, and Jacob’s family migrated to Egypt, where his son Joseph had risen to power. They survived — but over generations, they were enslaved. You’ve probably heard the story: Moses, the plagues, the Red Sea, freedom.
But freedom wasn’t the final goal.
They weren’t just escaping Egypt — they were returning home to the land of their ancestors: Canaan.
After 40 years of wandering, the Israelites finally crossed into the land under Joshua’s leadership. And this wasn’t just about territory. It was about identity, promise, and restoration.
🏛️ So Why Didn’t They Go Back to Ur?
Let’s make it crystal clear:
- God didn’t promise Ur — He called Abraham out of it.
- Ur was pagan, ruled by empires, and far from the heart of Israelite identity.
- Canaan became their story: Abraham lived there, Isaac and Jacob died there, the 12 tribes formed there.
They didn’t want just any land — they wanted the land they believed God had assigned to them. In those days, divine instruction was a national directive, not a private belief.
🗺️ The Strategic Importance of the Land
Now, beyond faith, let’s talk geography.
Canaan — or modern-day Israel/Palestine — sits in a very unique spot. It’s a natural bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe. It borders Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the Mediterranean Sea. Through its southern port of Eilat, it also accesses the Red Sea.
It’s been a major trade corridor for millennia — which is why almost every empire from Egypt to Rome wanted it.
Today, that geography still matters. Israel sits at the center of a region that’s key for energy, security, and global diplomacy.
🪨 Turning Scarcity into Strength: Natural Resources
Israel doesn’t have Saudi-level oil, but it’s not empty.
- It discovered major natural gas fields offshore — Leviathan and Tamar — which turned it into an energy exporter.
- It mines valuable Dead Sea minerals like bromine and potash.
- It mastered desalination, irrigation, and water recycling, becoming a world leader in water tech — something critical in a dry region.
Israel made the desert bloom — literally.
⚖️ But Wait… Does a Religious Promise Hold Legal Weight Today?
Here’s where things get interesting.
Many Jews — religious and not — see the return to the land as fulfilling an ancient promise. The connection to the land is deep, emotional, and historical. That’s why Jewish prayers have pointed toward Jerusalem for 2,000 years, even while living in exile.
But under international law, religious texts don’t define borders.
The modern State of Israel, founded in 1948, was recognized not because of Genesis or Deuteronomy, but because of:
- The UN Partition Plan of 1947,
- The end of British colonial rule in Palestine,
- And Israel’s ability to establish effective governance and diplomatic recognition.
So legally, Israel exists because it functions as a state — not because of divine promises. But the spiritual and historical weight of that promise still defines how Israelis (and many Jews worldwide) understand their connection to the land.
⚔️ The Clash: Memory vs. Modern Reality
When Israel declared independence in 1948, Arab states rejected the partition, and war followed. Over 700,000 Palestinians were displaced — an event known as the Nakba, or catastrophe.
To Israelis, 1948 was a return to their ancestral homeland.
To Palestinians, it was the beginning of loss and occupation.
And that’s the core of the conflict: two peoples claiming the same land — one through ancient memory and survival, the other through generations of lived presence and self-determination.
🧠 So, Why Israel?
Because it’s where the story was always pointing.
From Ur to Haran to Canaan, from exile to return, from memory to modernity — Israel’s existence is the product of geography, faith, survival, and history converging in one place.
It’s not just land. It’s legacy!
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