Numbers 18 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“The L_rd told Aaron, ‘You will not have an inheritance in the land; there will be no portion among them for you. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.” Numbers 18: 20

Zionism is basically the belief that Jews have a birthright to the land of Israel. That is, by virtue of being born, they have inherited the right to the land of Israel. This belief is founded by G_d’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…promises repeated often throughout the Bible.

Zionism is obviously easier to believe if you are Jewish, but what of the Middle Eastern non-Jew? Welcome to the Mid-East conflict.

It is easy to understand conflict whenever there are two claimants, but what if there is a THIRD party? Where do Followers of Messiah Yeshua (Christians) fit-in, pertaining to any claim to the land of Israel? I bring the question, simply because there are some “Christians” who believe the “Church” has replaced “Israel” in the eyes of G_d. To them, Gentile Christians have not merely been grafted-into the “vine” with Israel. Rather, Christians have replaced Israel, altogether. Of course, Messiah Yeshua is the true Vine and I’m just glad to be here, by His grace!

In the Middle Ages, Christian profiteers crusaded to free the “holy land” of Jews and Muslims. These “Crusaders” believed the land of Israel should be the sole possession of Christians. That plan did not work out well.

So what is the Gentile Christian’s inheritance, and more importantly, perhaps, what does it mean to be a co-inheritor with Messiah Yeshua? If followers of Yeshua (Jew or Gentile) were to relate to any particular Israelite tribe, it would be Levi. The B’rit HaDashah (New Testament) speaks of all believers being part of a holy priesthood. Followers of Yeshua should not yearn to build an earthly kingdom, but the Heavenly one.

Question: Whenever Israel was driven from the land by a conqueror, which tribe got to keep their inheritance?

Answer: The Levites.

Levitical inheritance was not earthly. Neither is the inheritance of followers of Yeshua. G_d gave the Levites an inheritance, from which they could not be driven. They were given the inheritance of serving the L_rd.

No matter where a follower of Yshua may wander (or be led), their obligation, inheritance and joy should be to serve the L_rd by serving others, without regard for building personal kingdoms on earth.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Sunday, May 25, 2014