The notable thing about these land divisions is that they are divided amongst the original twelve tribes, ten of which had disappeared over a hundred and fifty years earlier than this. These allotments are the outworking of the promise given in the second part of chapter 37 which prophesies the restoration of the northern Kingdom of Israel and the reunification of Israel and Judah (which included the tribe of Benjamin). Whatever else Ezekiel may be referring to here, ultimately, he is looking far forward beyond the ingathering of the nations (amongst which Israel had been scattered) to the new heavens and the new earth which will be the inheritance of God’s people forever. The possession of the Promised Land was always intended to foreshadow the inheritance of a renewed earth by all God’s people. We can therefore read these land divisions as indicative of the greater inheritance of God’s people. It is a wonderful climax to a remarkable book. In the end we will inherit the earth. The words of Psalm 16 are poignant here: “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Having joy in the present has a lot to do with having something to look forward to in the future. You will have a good day if you are excited about something you are doing that night. Likewise, you will have a good life if you live it in anticipation of what you have to look forward to in the future.
Reflect on your inheritance.
Read Ezekiel 47:13 to end chapter 48
