In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God told Joshua, “divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh, with whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward” which among others included, , “All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out. Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fourteen of Joshua we learn how Jehovah God said, “only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance” where we read,
Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.
The verse reads, “Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “only unto the tribe of Levi” which means “solely and alone to the people group or clan belonging to Levi whose name means ‘joined to” and was the third son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites” “he gave none inheritance” which means “he, Jehovah God, did not give or apportion a property, possession, heritage, portion or share”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God did not give a allotment or possession to the “tribe of Levi”.
The verse continues, “the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “the sacrifices” which means “the burnt offerings” “of the LORD God” or “pertaining to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God and the Supreme Deity” “of Israel” which means “belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “made by fire” or “fashioned, accomplished and produced through the means of fiery fire” “are their inheritance” which means “exists as their, the tribe of Levi’s, property, possession, heritage, portion or share”, “as he said unto them” or “even so and in likeness to that which Jehovah God uttered, declared and proclaimed to them, the tribe of Levi”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God said the “burnt offerings” were to be the possession and inheritance of the “tribe of Levi” just as He told them. (See Numbers 18:20-24; Deuteronomy 10:9)
When we consider the words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God acknowledged how the “tribe of Levi” was not to receive a possession of land or territory, however, the “burnt offerings” were to serve as their “inheritance”. The “Levites” were the special ministers to Jehovah God on behalf of the people of Israel, and they were to partake of the peoples’ offerings to Him. God loves His ministers, and these “Levites” were to be provided for by the people. God loves ministers today, and although everyone who receives Jesus Christ who came into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days will be a minister, a servant, of some sort, there are those who are called into full-time ministry positions. Regardless of whether we are in ministry full-time or not, when we yield our lives to Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and lead us into whatever ministry and possession He desires for our lives.
Next time we learn how, “Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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