Ezekiel 48:1-5: a reflection

1“Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar Enan at the border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath (and they shall have their sides east and west), Dan, one portion. 2“By the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion. 3“By the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, Naphtali, one portion. 4“By the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion. 5“By the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one portion.

In Ezekiel's vision of the restored land, the tribes are each given their portion: Dan, one portion; Asher, one portion; Naphtali, one portion, and so on, each tribe assigned its own place in the renewed order. In God's final restoration, each tribe has its appointed portion, its secure place; none is left out or forgotten. The vision of restoration includes a place for each of God's people, an ordered inheritance in which everyone has their portion.

Notice that in God's restoration, each has an appointed portion, a secure place. The vision does not leave any tribe out; each is given its portion, its place in the renewed order. In God's final restoration, no one of his people is forgotten or left without a place; each has an appointed inheritance, a secure portion in the restored land. The order of restoration includes a place for each, an assigned portion for every one of God's people. None is overlooked; each has their place.

That is a comfort, for it assures us that in God's final restoration, each of his people has a secure, appointed place. We can wonder whether we will have a place in God's future, whether we might be overlooked or left out; but the vision assigns each tribe its portion, none forgotten. In God's restoration, each of his people has an appointed place, a secure inheritance; none is left out. Do not fear that you might be overlooked or forgotten in God's future; in his restoration, each of his people has an appointed portion, a secure place, as each tribe was given its portion in the vision. Take comfort that God's final restoration includes a secure, appointed place for each of his people, none forgotten, as Ezekiel's vision assigned each tribe its portion in the renewed land; for in God's restoration, everyone who is his has a place, an inheritance secure and appointed, and none is left out.

Lord, in Ezekiel's vision of the restored land, the tribes are each given their portion: Dan, one portion; Asher, one portion; Naphtali, one portion, and so on, each tribe assigned its own place in the renewed order. In your final restoration, each tribe has its appointed portion, its secure place; none is left out or forgotten. The vision includes a place for each of your people. Show me that in your restoration, each has an appointed portion, a secure place. The vision does not leave any tribe out; each is given its portion. In your final restoration, no one of your people is forgotten or left without a place; each has an appointed inheritance. The order of restoration includes a place for each. None is overlooked. Give me the comfort of that, for it assures me that in your final restoration, each of your people has a secure, appointed place. I can wonder whether I will have a place in your future, whether I might be overlooked or left out; but the vision assigns each tribe its portion, none forgotten. In your restoration, each of your people has an appointed place; none is left out. Keep me from fearing that I might be overlooked or forgotten in your future; in your restoration, each of your people has an appointed portion, a secure place, Lord. Help me take comfort that your final restoration includes a secure, appointed place for me, none of your people forgotten.