At first, it would seem that Aaron and his sons were being unfairly treated, receiving less than their share of what God offered all the other tribes of Israel. But actually, because they were serving God first and giving their lives to care for the community, they were given much more. God said that He would be their portion and inheritance.

You see God was leading this Israelite community to a promised land... a great inheritance. And once they arrived, the land was to be portioned and assigned to them in territories according to the needs of each tribe. But Aaron and his lineage of Levites would have no such land of their own.

In this way, God was endeavoring to keep them from being distracted in their work. He was freeing them from what might entangle them in the affairs of common men. They wouldn't spend their time in the fields and vineyards, begin influenced by others, but rather would be set apart and secluded to keep their minds set on higher things.

And God promised to be their portion and inheritance. He was to give them a greater sense of Himself, a greater awareness with wisdom of His nature, His character, and His grace. They were to be satisfied in Him as their portion.

What a great promise, since God is everlasting, always faithful and inexhaustible in power. This is much better than land and material wealth which will need work and still be subject to decay.

We too have this inheritance, as we are considered His priests in this age of grace.

Coming to Him, a living stone...
rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God...
you yourselves, as living stones,
are being built into a spiritual house
for a holy priesthood
to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:4-5

And as such, God is also our portion and inheritance... intended to satisfy us fully and help us set our mind on higher things, rather than those of this world which are subject to decay.

Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26

Let us not count, nor compare the worldly wealth we may be lacking. Rather let us live fully in the knowledge that God is our satisfying portion... our inheritance of inexhaustible riches and power.

This, the beginning of a prayer of Moses...
I love that He addresses God as, "my Lord." For Moses knew how important is was for us to take part in this relationship, to claim Him as his own. Not simply the God of the Universe, but his very own, personal God.

Then with confidence, Moses continues the prayer, praising God for what he has witnessed... that God is slow to anger. Our God is more than patient as He has pursued mankind since the Garden. And no matter how stiff-necked we become, not wanting to turn toward Him, He remains faithful to us. He remains loving toward us; a Gentleman who will not force Himself upon us, but gives us the choice to accept Him or not.

That is amazing to me!
If I were to pursue the love and devotion of a person, yet they continually rejected me, even speaking with doubt and disgrace about me, I would pull back. I would walk away and no longer be interested in a relationship with them. For it's just to painful to endure.

But not our God. Even though we often insist on our own way, showing Him indifference, He still waits; His faithful love never fails.

I don't have to understand it, to accept it. I don't have to be capable of it to receive it. I simply have to turn toward the offering He presents; His open handed forgiveness of my rebellious heart and wrongful past.

His promise remains for all of us. And like Moses, we can pray this confident prayer, telling God that we know who He truly is... slow to anger, rich in faithful love.

This day and everyday, I choose to acknowledge my Enduring Forgiver.

I wasn't always the best of students.
I didn't always show up to class, eager to learn.
Sometimes I imagine the multitude of things I missed out on knowing, simply because I didn't have the right attitude; understanding my place as a student.

This to be sure, is a beautiful cry from the heart of Moses' to to the heart of God! This to be certain, is a humble heart who knows His place.

Lord, You have been our dwelling place...
our refuge, our sanctuary,
our stability in all generations.

Before the mountains were born
Or before You had given birth
to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are the eternal God.
Psalm 90:1-2 AMP

And so continues the way of the student. For until we know our place, until we know His, we cannot have a right heart to learn. He is the everlasting. He is the eternal God. And we are to number our days.

What an drastic comparison.
While we cannot grasp His infinite being, we too often let loose our minutes, hours and days, as if we will have them forever. Just contemplating the disparity between these two is cause to develop our hearts.

So to our Patient Teacher we pray...
Lord, grant us wisdom and not merely knowledge.
Lord, satisfy us, as You are more than enough.
Lord, let us receive Your faithful love in this unfaithful world.

Oh, that I will take this to heart!
Oh, that I will shout for joy...
​and BE GLAD all my days.

What an amazing sight this must have been!

A pillar of cloud by day, and pillar of fire by night; the very presence of God hovering over the tent of meeting. And when God chose to guide His people to another place, to a new destination on their way to promise, He would rise up as a signal for the people to get ready. Then He would lead them, always out in front. 

Since He was this brilliant Usher, this glorious cloud, they always knew He was near. Since He stayed in front of them, they always. knew where to go.

Oh that we would ask God to be our Ushering Glory, even today!

He may not be that spectacular sight of long ago in the wilderness, but He has not changed. He is still present in our lives when we trust Him with our heart. He is still one who guides and will lead us... if we will follow. 

It only takes a humble heart and a desire to seek Him daily. When we cry out to Him, He will meet us where we are... offering His pillar of cloud to comfort us, His blazing fire to light our way. Yahweh is ever our Ushering Glory

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone in life. It can bring such an amazing sense of gratitude and accomplishment. And then... it can bring an eye-opening awareness of responsibility. The maintenance and upkeep of a home can sometimes overwhelm and cause us to forget why we sought this ownership.

Such is the nature of material wealth. Possessions of this earth are subject to diminish. And into those things we value, we must continue investment; working to maintain and protect them.

​This was the same principal God demonstrated to the Israelites after the building of the tabernacle was completed through the leadership of Moses, God knew all that would be required to care for and keep sacred this place of His presence. So He appointed a specific tribe of men responsible for it's movement, maintenance and protection.

Aaron, the brother of Moses, and his sons were to be the first priests. And all future priests needed to be from their lineage. But the rest of the Levites, all those descendants of Levi, son of Jacob, would be set apart to serve in or around the tabernacle. They were chosen by God for service... to Him and the people.

What God puts in place in our lives, what He plans and purposes for us to do, He will also continue to care for, to maintain and protect. Just as He did this tabernacle. Anything He sets apart for a purpose is of great value to Him.

You and I are as such... set apart for a purpose. We are His tabernacle; the place of His holy presence, dwelling within. So we should also know that He is invested in us. He is concerned about protecting us as we move through life. Just like the tabernacle of long ago, He purposefully plans and cares for His dwelling place.

Trust Him to do so.
Call on Him to help in this.
He has set you apart for a purpose.
And He will provide, protect and prosper you in it!