Our Inheritance

As soon as the Israelites stepped into the promised land of Canaan and the land had rest from all the wars, Joshua their leader gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes just as Moses had commanded. Each tribe was alloted a portion of the promised land. Nine tribes and half tribe of Ma-nas-seh were given their portions in the land of Canaan while the other half of Ma-nas-seh and two tribes were given land beyond river Jordan eastward. But the tribe of Levi was not given any portion of land as inheritance.

Levites, who were descendants of Levi, the son of Jacob and Leah were sanctified for the purpose of keeping the charge of tabernacle of congregation and for all the service of the tabernacle. Hence, God did not give them any inheritance of the land of Canaan. Surely our God is God of justice and compassion. He did not deprive the Levites from the good things he had given all the other tribes. But the way of giving unto the Levites was different. Their inheritance was different & unique.

Josh.13:14, ‘Only to the tribe of Levi he had given no inheritance; the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said to them.’ Numbers 18:19 to 32 says that all the tithes of Israelites, after the heave offerings were offered to Aaron the priest were given unto the Levites to inherit. Heave offerings were the best portions of the tithes of the Israelites. And tithes were in turn the best and the first fruits of all the produce of Israelites. The best of the best were for the Lord and the rest were given as an inheritance for the Levites. In other words, the Lord Himself was giving the Levites from the complete portion of tithes brought for Him. Levis and their household could eat of this portion in any place and it was the reward for their service in the tabernacle of the congregation. Today, we are the royal priesthood of the New Testament, who represent the Levites of the Old Testament. We have been called and sanctified to be the living stones  to build up the spiritual house of holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to the Lord (1 Pet.2:5). The other tribes of Israel had to plough their field, tend their livestock etc. to earn their living. But we, the Levites have been called to build up His Kingdom. And as we do it faithfully with all our heart, the Lord’s mercy sustains us by providing for all our needs according to the riches of His glory. We have inherited the sacrifices of the Lord God. Our portions are from the Lord’s riches.

 Josh.13:33, ‘But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as He had said to them.’  Here, the Word says that the Lord Himself was their inheritance. Only the Levites were supposed to do all the services of the tabernacle of congregation. A tabernacle represented God’s temple or a place where His presence dwells. This presence was all over within and over this tabernacle which housed the Ark of the Covenant. As these Levites did their services, they were privileged to experience the Lord’s presence, which the rest of the tribes could not have. Today, through faith in Christ Jesus, we have been sealed with His Holy Spirit. This treasure has been bestowed in our earthly bodies, which are now the temple of God. And let’s be reminded that this presence of God is the only treasure in this world, which no power or person can snatch away from us. If we sustain in this presence of the Lord, we are in the safest place on this earth. Rom.8:16-17 says that the Holy Spirit within us bears witness that we are His children. And if children, then heirs; and heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…’ We inherit the presence of the Father and the sweet fellowship with Christ through His presence. We inherit the presence of the Almighty Creator, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.  Is there any other inheritance which is more blessed than this? We, being the temple of God and the Levis of the New Testament, lets take every care to sustain and to grow in this beautiful overwhelming presence of God. More than heaven, we have inherited the presence of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

 Josh.18:7, ‘But the Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance.’  Levites did not just inherit the portions of the tithes brought for the Lord and His presence, but also the very ‘calling’’ of the Lord. The Levites who were also the priests stood between God and man. Ex.28:30 says about the Lord’s instruction to Aaron, the high priest to bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. It was the priests who sacrificed the animals brought as offerings for their sins and the high priest would enter the holy of holies place of the temple, once a year for the atonement of the sins of the whole congregation of Israel. And if he bore any sin, he would die (Ex.28:43). The priests and the high priest would be interceding for the forgiveness of the people. They bore the burden of their judgment before God. We have inherited this ‘calling’ from our Lord, the high priest who entered into the holy place of heaven after offering Himself as sacrifice once and for all for our eternal redemption Today, being called as the royal and holy priests of the King of Kings, we have been given the great calling of intercession, bearing in our heart the burden for the souls. This divine burden has been imparted into our hearts through His Spirit. Ez.22:29-30, ‘The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. ³⁰ So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.’  Today, lives across the world, both within and outside the so called churches are oppressed and robbed off their robes of righteousness. They are wounded and in need of the love and care of the Good Samaritan. They are attacked by satanic powers and bound up for eternal damnation. And God still seeks for lives who would stand in gap for them before the Lord. Dear friends, there are many lives ready to preach but its heart breaking to see the dwindling number of lives ready to carry the burden of the Lord before the throne of grace on their knees. Lets be reminded that we, being the Levites of the New Testament, the royal and holy priesthood, we have inherited the priesthood of the Lord.

The inheritance of a person comes into his or her authority with maturity. Gal.4:1 says that an heir, as long as he is a child is no different from a servant. Similarly, if we are growing steadily in the Lord, in His word, in obedience, in holiness, we will find ourselves inheriting His riches in glory, His presence and His calling which He has promised to all His children. The Levites inherited their inheritance through sanctification and submission. Sanctification separates us for the Lordship of Christ over our every area of lives while submission allows Him to use us according to His heart’s desires.  May we grow in the Lord fervently to inherit eternal things of heaven and let’s not be so keen to inherit things of this world that will perish, pass away and will be destroyed.  Rev.1:6, ‘To Him who loved us and washed^[a] us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶ and has made us kings^[b] and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  God bless us all.

God bless us all

http://thebrokenbread.wordpress.com/