However, seeing how the Bible tells us to not enter into these decisions with haste helps to restore some confidence that the individuals handing down the discipline are, in fact, doing so in the must true way they can. They are following the word of God by not giving in to the pressures of secular culture to come down with a swift and powerful decision. Section XIII

The River in Egypt is in debate. The river that marks one of the boundaries for the land promised in the Covenant of Abraham may or may not be the Nile. Because the Nile is such a popular and readily recognizable river, many simply assume that this is in fact the river being referred to as the boundary. Ryrie brings up a very good point that the word used in the text originally indicates a continuously flowing river, which the Nile is, but the el-Arish is not. This seems like a very strong argument for the Nile being the intended boundary, and my opinion of it has not changed, however, I was enlightened to the fact that the river is, in fact, in debate.

God took sole responsibility for fulfilling the Covenant. I think it is often assumed or alluded to in some teachings that there were (are) certain obligations of man in order for the Covenant to be fulfilled. I also think that an unenlightened secular individual may even think it arrogant that Christians simply assume that this will be fulfilled, but Ryrie offers clear evidence that God not only took it upon himself the full responsibility to keep his promises regardless of Abraham's actions, but he did so completely on his own when Abraham was asleep. Even though Abraham...

Perhaps the caveat that it's the enjoyment of the blessings of the Covenant that is conditional on the behavior of man, but the fulfillment of the promises are unconditional that is slightly misunderstood.
The Covenant will be fulfilled literally. Ryrie asserts that much of the covenant has already been fulfilled, and it has been fulfilled literally, therefore it seems impossible not to assume that the remaining elements, including the land promised to Abraham, would not be fulfilled literally as well. This actually helps make sense of much of the current political and military issues that are happening in, around and about Israel at the moment. Admittedly I am not one to really pursue political interests, and therefore I am at a loss to understand much of what is going on in the Middle East in general -- the real story that is; the background information of why these things are happening, not just what is happening -- and although I am perfectly aware of the religious interests in the area in general, I realize now why so many people believe that this covenant will be fulfilled in such a literal sense. It makes it even more clear the strife in the area when it is taken into account that Muslims also believe in the Covenant, though slightly different in the way of who will enjoy these blessings.

Words Cited

Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical

Truth Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth. Chicago: Moody Pub., 1999.