We all want what is right, just and fair. The challenge is that we do not always know what is fair. My daily Bible reading is taking me through passages in the Old Testament where the people of Israel have finally entered into the land God promised to them over forty years ago. The land is being divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. Every tribe gets a portion of land except one – the tribe of Levi.
I recall someone remarking that the tribe of Levi got the short end of the deal. They only got towns to live in, but never received land that they could build their home on, plant crops, and raise a family. This person felt they got ripped off.
Deuteronomy 10:8-9
8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today. 9 That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as the LORD your God told them.
The family of Levi was the only tribe that got to minister before the Lord. They were the only ones who encountered God on a daily basis. They were the only ones who could smell the sweet fragrance of offering and incense going up to the very throne room of God. They were the only ones who directly encountered the pure love of God, His pure holiness, His pure justice and His pure pureness. The Levites were the first to know when disobedience brought God’s displeasure and they were the first to know when the obedience of the nation brought God’s abundant goodness.
They got the presence of God and not the presents from God. The person who thought the Levites got the short end of the deal really did not understand the incredible privileges the tribe of Levi received every day.
Those who love Jesus Christ more than anything have greater privileges than the Levites. The Lord Jesus is our high priest and we can boldly go directly to Him.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
If you have times of wishing you had more possessions or inheritance, remind yourself that you have more than what the most favored tribe of Israel possessed. Go for the presence instead of the presents.
I recall someone remarking that the tribe of Levi got the short end of the deal. They only got towns to live in, but never received land that they could build their home on, plant crops, and raise a family. This person felt they got ripped off.
Deuteronomy 10:8-9
8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today. 9 That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as the LORD your God told them.
The family of Levi was the only tribe that got to minister before the Lord. They were the only ones who encountered God on a daily basis. They were the only ones who could smell the sweet fragrance of offering and incense going up to the very throne room of God. They were the only ones who directly encountered the pure love of God, His pure holiness, His pure justice and His pure pureness. The Levites were the first to know when disobedience brought God’s displeasure and they were the first to know when the obedience of the nation brought God’s abundant goodness.
They got the presence of God and not the presents from God. The person who thought the Levites got the short end of the deal really did not understand the incredible privileges the tribe of Levi received every day.
Those who love Jesus Christ more than anything have greater privileges than the Levites. The Lord Jesus is our high priest and we can boldly go directly to Him.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
If you have times of wishing you had more possessions or inheritance, remind yourself that you have more than what the most favored tribe of Israel possessed. Go for the presence instead of the presents.
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