Deuteronomy 10:6-11: a reflection

6(The children of Israel traveled from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his place. 7From there they traveled to Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water. 8At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the LORD’s covenant, to stand before the LORD to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day. 9Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD your God spoke to him.) 10I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD listened to me that time also. The LORD would not destroy you. 11The LORD said to me, “Arise, take your journey before the people; and they shall go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.”

In the midst of recounting Israel's journey, this passage notes that God set apart the tribe of Levi for his service, to carry the ark, to minister before him, and to bless in his name. And it adds a striking detail about their portion: therefore Levi has no share or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance. The other tribes received land; but Levi received God himself as their inheritance, a portion different from, and greater than, any allotment of land.

Notice what Levi received in place of land: the LORD himself as their inheritance. The other tribes had territory, fields, a portion of the land; but Levi's portion was God. This was not a lesser inheritance, but a greater one; for what is any land compared to God himself? Levi's portion was not a place, but a Person, the living God, whom they served and who was their inheritance. They had less of what the eye could see, but more of what matters most.

That truth, the LORD himself as our inheritance, is one to hold onto and to prize. We are prone to measure our portion by what we can see and possess, land, wealth, security; and to feel poor if we have little of these. But the deepest inheritance is God himself, and it is worth more than any land or wealth. If God is your portion, you are richer than one who has all the wealth of the world but not God. Do not measure your true portion only by what you possess of this world's goods; the LORD himself is the inheritance of his people, and it is greater than any land. Prize God as your inheritance, as Levi did, and find in him a portion worth more than all that the eye can see; for to have God himself as your inheritance is to have the greatest portion of all, greater than any allotment of land or wealth.

Lord, this passage notes that you set apart Levi for your service, and gave them, in place of land, a striking portion: the LORD is his inheritance. The other tribes received territory; but Levi received you yourself, a portion greater than any allotment of land. Help me hold onto and prize that truth: you yourself as my inheritance. I am prone to measure my portion by what I can see and possess, land, wealth, security, and to feel poor if I have little of these. But the deepest inheritance is you yourself, worth more than any land or wealth. If you are my portion, I am richer than one who has all the wealth of the world but not you. Keep me from measuring my true portion only by what I possess of this world's goods; you yourself are the inheritance of your people, greater than any land. Help me prize you as my inheritance, as Levi did, and find in you a portion worth more than all that the eye can see; for to have you yourself as my inheritance is to have the greatest portion of all. Be my inheritance, Lord, and my portion forever.