What does "I am their inheritance" reveal about God's provision for priests? Verse Under Study “‘You are to give them no inheritance in Israel, for I am their inheritance.’” Setting the Scene • The verse sits in a chapter defining priestly duties during Ezekiel’s vision of a restored temple. • Ordinary Israelite tribes received fixed parcels of land; priests and Levites did not. • God Himself declared He would fill the gap: “I am their inheritance.” God’s Provision in the Statement • Personal Portion – Land can be measured, lost, or depleted; God cannot. – By giving Himself, the Lord offers inexhaustible security (Psalm 16:5–6). • Ongoing Presence – Priests served daily before Him, experiencing continual nearness (Numbers 18:7). – Their “inheritance” was relational rather than territorial. • Sustaining Supply – Food came from offerings and firstfruits (Numbers 18:8–12). – Cities of refuge and designated towns met housing needs (Joshua 21). – Thus, practical needs were met while dependence remained on God, not acreage. Why God Himself Is Better Than Land • Unchanging Value – Property values rise and fall; the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). • Constant Access – Land can be fenced off or occupied; God grants immediate audience in worship (Hebrews 4:16). • Eternal Nature – Earthly plots stop at death; inheriting God stretches into eternity (Psalm 73:26). How the Truth Shaped Priestly Life • Motive Purified – Ministry was not a career path to riches; it was service to the One who Himself was reward. • Daily Dependence – Offerings arrived as people obeyed; every meal reminded priests that God’s faithfulness, not their farming, sustained them. • Representative Example – Their lifestyle pictured Israel’s ultimate calling: trust the Lord over tangible assets (Deuteronomy 8:3). Old Testament Echoes • Numbers 18:20 — “The LORD said to Aaron… ‘I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.’” • Deuteronomy 18:1–2 — “The LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.” • Psalm 73:26 — “…God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” New Testament Fulfillment • 1 Peter 2:9—Believers are now a “royal priesthood,” invited to find their portion in Christ. • Revelation 1:6—Jesus “has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God.” • Ephesians 1:11—“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined…”; our inheritance centers in a Person, not merely a place. Key Takeaways • God’s people never lose when they surrender material claims to gain Him. • True ministry looks to the Lord, not to human compensation packages. • Every Christian, called into a priestly role through Christ, can live with the same assurance: the Lord Himself is our portion—now and forever. |
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