Ezekiel 47:13-17: a reflection

13The Lord GOD says: “This shall be the border by which you shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. 14You shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I swore to give it to your fathers. This land will fall to you for inheritance. 15“This shall be the border of the land: “On the north side, from the great sea, by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad; 16Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazer Hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17The border from the sea shall be Hazar Enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

As God describes the inheritance his people will receive, he emphasizes that it is to be shared equally among the tribes, each receiving a portion, one as well as another. You shall inherit it, one as well as another, God says; for I swore to give it to your fathers. This land will fall to you for inheritance. The inheritance was not to be given only to some, or in greater measure to the favored; it was to be shared, each tribe receiving its portion, one as well as another, all sharing in the inheritance God had promised. God's promised inheritance is for all his people, shared, none left without a portion. This shows God's inheritance shared among all his people, each receiving a portion. God's inheritance is shared equally, one as well as another. Each of God's people receives a portion of the inheritance. None of God's people is left without a share. God's promised inheritance is for all, not only some.

Notice the equality God establishes in the inheritance: one as well as another. The land was to be divided among all the tribes, each receiving its portion; the inheritance was not hoarded by some or denied to others, but shared, one tribe as well as another. All were to share in the inheritance God had sworn to give. This reflects something of how God deals with his people. The inheritance God promises is not for a favored few, with others left out; it is for all his people, shared, each receiving a portion, none left without a share. This points forward to the inheritance God gives his people in Christ, an inheritance shared by all who belong to him, of every background, each a full heir, none a second-class member. In Christ, all God's people share in the inheritance; none is left without a portion, none is favored over another. This is a comfort: we are not left out of God's inheritance, not given a lesser share, but are full heirs with all his people, sharing equally in what he has promised. We each have a full portion in God's inheritance, shared with all his people. God's inheritance is shared by all his people, none left without a portion. In Christ, all are full heirs, none second-class. We are not left out of God's inheritance but share fully in it.

That is worth resting in, for God's promised inheritance is shared among all his people, each receiving a full portion, none left out, as the land was to be inherited one as well as another. We can feel we might be left out of God's inheritance, given a lesser share than others; but God's inheritance is shared, one as well as another, and in Christ all his people are full heirs. None is left without a portion. When you feel you might be left out or given a lesser share, remember that God's inheritance is for all his people, shared equally. Rest in the truth that God's promised inheritance is shared among all his people, each receiving a full portion and none left out, as God, describing the inheritance his people would receive, emphasized that it was to be shared one as well as another, each tribe receiving its portion of the land he had sworn to give; for the inheritance was not to be given only to some or in greater measure to the favored, but shared, none hoarding it and none denied a share, which reflects how God deals with his people, since the inheritance he promises is not for a favored few with others left out but for all his people, each receiving a portion, and this points forward to the inheritance God gives in Christ, shared by all who belong to him of every background, each a full heir and none a second-class member, so that we are not left out of God's inheritance or given a lesser share, but are full heirs with all his people, sharing equally in what he has promised, and when we feel we might be left out we can rest in knowing that God's inheritance is for all his people, shared, with a full portion for each.

Lord, as you describe the inheritance your people will receive, you emphasize that it is to be shared equally among the tribes, each receiving a portion, one as well as another. You shall inherit it, one as well as another, you say; for I swore to give it to your fathers. This land will fall to you for inheritance. The inheritance was not to be given only to some, or in greater measure to the favored; it was to be shared, each tribe receiving its portion, all sharing in the inheritance you had promised. Your promised inheritance is for all your people, none left without a portion. Show me the equality you establish in the inheritance: one as well as another. The land was to be divided among all the tribes; the inheritance was not hoarded by some or denied to others, but shared. This reflects something of how you deal with your people. The inheritance you promise is not for a favored few, with others left out; it is for all your people, each receiving a portion, none left without a share. This points forward to the inheritance you give your people in Christ, shared by all who belong to you, of every background, each a full heir, none a second-class member. In Christ, all your people share in the inheritance; none is favored over another. This is a comfort: I am not left out of your inheritance, not given a lesser share, but am a full heir with all your people. Take that to my heart, for your promised inheritance is shared among all your people, each receiving a full portion. When I feel I might be left out or given a lesser share, help me remember that your inheritance is for all your people, shared equally, Lord, and that in Christ I am a full heir, sharing fully in what you have promised, not left without a portion.