Deuteronomy 30:4-5 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, (When we choose to turn our back on the Lord, we create a great space and distance between us and Him, and, like the prodigal son, we take ourselves away form Him. Our disobedience to the Lord causes us to experience grave penalties, the worst of which is separation from Him, the ultimate definition of hell itself.) from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. (Even though the Lord knew in advance what foolish decisions we would make, in His great mercy and grace, in His kindheartedness to us, His lovingkindness to us, in His undeserved and unmerited favor to us, He calls us back to Himself to cause us to be reconnected with Him.) He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. (The Lord not only joins us again to Him, but He also restores our standing with Him. He doesn't hold a grudge against us or keep us at a distance from Him. His forgiveness is so complete and He causes us to be so favored that His blessings and restoration surpass all that we could have imagined.)
