Should we expect God to bring Israel back to the promised land someday? Some Christians argue that Joshua 21:43–45 settles the question. God gave Israel all the land He promised, everything was fulfilled, and there is no reason to expect a future fulfillment of the land promise. I’ve seen this argument frequently in discussions online. And I understand why the passage might initially seem convincing. Joshua uses comprehensive language about God’s faithfulness. But does that mean every aspect of the land promise was exhausted during the conquest? We need to look carefully at both the promise itself and the context of Joshua. What Did God Promise Abraham? The land promise begins in Genesis 12:7, where God tells Abram, “To your offspring I will give this land.” Genesis 13:15 adds an important detail: the land would belong to Abraham and his offspring “forever.” Genesis 15:18 specifies the boundaries, extending from the…