The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 26:52-56,
"The Lord said to Moses, 'The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed. Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.'"
Numbers 26 provides census numbers by the tribes of Israel as well as a breakdown of the various clans of each tribe. In the above few verses, the Lord tells Moses that the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is to be distributed by tribe and according to the relative size of each tribe as their inheritance of what was promised.
After their 40 year sojourn in the wilderness, the Israelites now look forward to their share in the inheritance of what was promised to their patriarchs.
As it does to many, this causes me to think of our inheritance in the next life following our sojourn in this one. This life can be likened to a wilderness sojourn in that it is occupied by us living in a cursed world (following mankind's fall in the garden of Eden), suffering the consequences of a collective sinful nature.
For those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, we look forward to an inheritance that awaits us. Eternal life! We can sing along with David,
"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:9-11.
This is our inheritance! Paul tells us, "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:11-14.
Paul counsels those who serve others to be productive in this life as we look forward to our eternal inheritance, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24.
Peter encourages believers in light of the inheritance that is headed our way, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." 1 Peter 1:3-6.
Paul tells us something amazing about our inheritance in Romans 8:16-17, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." We will share together in the inheritance of the Son of God as his co-heirs!
Just as the Israelites could begin to look forward to their inheritance in the promised land, so we too look forward to our own eternal inheritance that we will share together with Jesus Christ!
"The Lord said to Moses, 'The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed. Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.'"
Numbers 26 provides census numbers by the tribes of Israel as well as a breakdown of the various clans of each tribe. In the above few verses, the Lord tells Moses that the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is to be distributed by tribe and according to the relative size of each tribe as their inheritance of what was promised.
After their 40 year sojourn in the wilderness, the Israelites now look forward to their share in the inheritance of what was promised to their patriarchs.
As it does to many, this causes me to think of our inheritance in the next life following our sojourn in this one. This life can be likened to a wilderness sojourn in that it is occupied by us living in a cursed world (following mankind's fall in the garden of Eden), suffering the consequences of a collective sinful nature.
For those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, we look forward to an inheritance that awaits us. Eternal life! We can sing along with David,
"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:9-11.
This is our inheritance! Paul tells us, "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:11-14.
Paul counsels those who serve others to be productive in this life as we look forward to our eternal inheritance, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24.
Peter encourages believers in light of the inheritance that is headed our way, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." 1 Peter 1:3-6.
Paul tells us something amazing about our inheritance in Romans 8:16-17, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." We will share together in the inheritance of the Son of God as his co-heirs!
Just as the Israelites could begin to look forward to their inheritance in the promised land, so we too look forward to our own eternal inheritance that we will share together with Jesus Christ!
How amazing is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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