Joshua 13:29-33: a reflection

29Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was for the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families. 30Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities. 31Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the children of Machir according to their families. 32These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward. 33But Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.

As the land is distributed among the tribes, one tribe is given no territory at all: But Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them. The Levites received no portion of land as the other tribes did; instead, God himself was their inheritance, their portion. What the other tribes had in land, the Levites had in God himself; he was their possession, their inheritance, more than any territory.

Notice what the Levites had for their inheritance: God himself. They were given no land, no territory, as the other tribes were; but they were not left without an inheritance. Their inheritance was God himself; the LORD was their portion. This was not a lesser inheritance but a greater: to have God himself as one's portion, rather than a piece of land, is to have the best of all inheritances. What the Levites lacked in land, they had in God; and God himself was a richer inheritance than any territory could be. Their portion was the Lord.

That is worth taking to heart, for God himself is meant to be our true inheritance and portion. We can seek our portion, our inheritance, our treasure, in the things of this world, in possessions, security, achievements; but the Levites' inheritance was God himself, a portion greater than any earthly one. God himself is meant to be our true inheritance, our portion, our treasure, richer than anything the world can give. Do not seek your true inheritance only in earthly things, in possessions or security; God himself is your portion, a greater inheritance than any earthly one, as he was the inheritance of the Levites. Let God himself be your true inheritance and portion, your treasure, valuing him above any earthly possession, as the Levites had the LORD for their inheritance rather than land; for to have God himself as one's portion is the richest inheritance of all, better than any territory the world can give.

Lord, as the land is distributed among the tribes, one tribe is given no territory at all: but Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them. The Levites received no portion of land; instead, you yourself were their inheritance, their portion. What the other tribes had in land, the Levites had in you; you were their possession, more than any territory. Show me what the Levites had for their inheritance: you yourself. They were given no land; but they were not left without an inheritance. Their inheritance was you; you were their portion. This was not a lesser inheritance but a greater: to have you yourself as one's portion is to have the best of all inheritances. What the Levites lacked in land, they had in you. Take that to my heart, for you yourself are meant to be my true inheritance and portion. I can seek my portion, my treasure, in the things of this world, in possessions, security, achievements; but the Levites' inheritance was you, a portion greater than any earthly one. You yourself are meant to be my true inheritance, richer than anything the world can give. Keep me from seeking my true inheritance only in earthly things; you yourself are my portion, Lord, a greater inheritance than any earthly one. Help me let you yourself be my true inheritance and portion, my treasure, valuing you above any earthly possession, as the Levites had you for their inheritance rather than land.