For the past month or so I’ve been slugging through Ezekiel. I’m doing a chronological reading plan that’s supposed to take you through the Bible in a year, although my version is a two-year plan.
Ezekiel is a hard book to keep my head in. My eyes can tend to glaze over. But the other day I came to a passage that discussed the Levitical priests inheritance:
“This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession.” 44:28
The Lord was the Levitical priests’ inheritance. They did not receive an inheritance of land, like the other tribes of Israel. Their inheritance and possession was the Lord himself.
As I read this tiny verse tucked in Ezekiel, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’m satisfied with possessing “only” the Lord. It everything else was stripped away, like Job, would possessing Him be enough? Or do I demand a larger inheritance? A more material one? Am I content with the presence of the Lord as my blessing or do I long for an inheritance that includes an easy life, a nice home, good health, obedient kids, a loving husband?
Nothing is wrong with these desires at all. But, if I turn them into rights, an inheritance I deserve, I’ll be come bitter if I don’t have them. God never promised the American dream. He only promised himself.
So good! How tempting it is to think of those desires as “rights.” It reminds me of a line from a song: “If we got what we deserved, we’d be in hell tonight.” Yet it’s so easy for me to think that I somehow have a right to comfort, pleasure, love, ease, etc.
Very convicting!! Thank you…just what I needed. : )
and He is enough.I have heard something like, ‘When God is all that you have, He becomes all that you want.”
That’s likely not quite right, but I think captures the heart of the matter.
Great thoughts Danielle. Such nuggets to be brought out from that verse. I have definitely wrestled over similar thoughts (still am). Thank you for the challenge.
This same thing struck me when reading through Numbers and Deuteronomy as the promised land was divided among the tribes.