God’s People, His Inheritance

God’s People, His Inheritance

For the LORD’S portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance.

Deuteronomy 32:9

The Word of God, like good bread, grows sweeter with the chewing. When Israel was about to cross over into the land of promise, the prospect of the “lot of inheritance” would have been prominent in many minds. Moses, writing his song in the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy, makes a vivid reference to the fact that as far as God Himself was concerned He considered His own people to be His “portion” or “the lot of His inheritance.” This is a very enjoyable thought for us to mull over. God actually identifies us as being His inherited possession. According to the book of Joshua in the first chapter, their possession of the land was by Divine appointment. We are Christ’s possession by the Divine appointment of His Father. We are “all that the Father giveth” to whom Christ refers in John 6:37. The book of Joshua details the exact boundaries which the lots of inheritance had, as well as the outer limits of the whole land. There is a limit as well to the Lord’s lot of inheritance. That number of who shall be saved is fixed and has been so since the elect were “chosen. . . before the foundation of the world.” It is beyond controversy that “the Lord knoweth them that are His.” The inherited possession is also that which the owner improves. He would fence it, plant it, water it, rest it, harvest it – – all for the good of the land and for his own pleasure. So Christ improves His people. He sets hedges about us, brings forth from us the fruit of the Spirit, restores, waters us with the Word, and derives great pleasure from us. The inherited possession is the place where the owner lives. We are where Christ lives. We are His Body. He dwells in the midst of His people. Also, the lot of inheritance was a perpetual possession. It must not be parted with. Naboth refused to let go of his God-given possession. Christ declares “neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” What rich thoughts are here that will enable us to face all that lies before us in this day. We are His portion and the lot of His inheritance. What greater assurance could we have?

Our Heavenly Master,
we rejoice that we are Thine and Thou art ours forever.
We praise Thee that Thou has made us Thine.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice